RFX first wall and vacuum vessel design

The paper describes the design of the RFX first wall, made by solid graphite tiles, and of the double-walled, all-metal vacuum vessel. After a discussion on the reasons that led to this configuration, the relevant design requirements for a 2 MA Reverse Field Pinch device are outlined. The calculations about the electromagnetic effects of the vessel eddy currents on plasma behavior are then reported. Expected thermal load on the first wall and time-history of the graphite surface temperature during plasma pulses are discussed. The paper gives the most significant results of the electrodynamic load calculations and gives the main criteria on which the vessel mechanical design was based. Finally, some technological aspects of the vessel design (e.g.: welding processes, leak testing, assembly procedures) are described