Fabrication and quality assurance of ITER TF conductor in China

Highlights: •Critical manufacturing technologies of TF conductors provide useful guidelines for future fabrication of large conductors. •Non-destructive-examination methods were described in detail, which could be used as a standard for the preparation of TF conductors. •Quality control during manufacturing TF conductors provides the references for the component fabrication of large engineering equipment. -- Abstract: ITER-China TF conductor has been finished on schedule which met all technical requirements, passed all testing and acceptance inspections. Critical technologies for the ITER TF conductor, including cabling, jacket, welding, insertion, compaction, spooling, and acceptance tests have been fully developed and used on the TF conductor fabrication. According to the ITER quality assurance requirement, TF conductor is the quality class 1 component for ITER. To realize the quality assurance and control for manufacture of TF conductors, a quality assurance team has been established. The implements quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) work based on our quality system have been set up. Quality control has passed through the whole manufacturing process. The key technologies and QA process for successful fabrication all CN-TF conductors are given in this paper. Among all technologies for TF fabrication, the welding, insertion and compaction are the main critical processes performed at ASIPP. After welding and spooling, Non-Destructive-Examination (NDE), as a strict and important quality control method, is proceeded to control the quality of welding.