TWI wins major contract with F4E

TWI has been awarded a major framework contract to support the fabrication of
key components of the ITER nuclear fusion reactor, by Fusion for Energy (F4E),
the organisation delivering the European contribution to the ground-breaking
ITER International Fusion Energy project. ITER is a first-of-a-kind global
collaboration. It will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility and is
designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion
power.

The four-year contract will see TWI (with subcontractors Ceram and The Test
House) provide engineering support to F4E on the performance of materials,
joining, structural integrity of joints and non-destructive testing activities in
support of the manufacture of components such as the vacuum vessel, magnets
system, remote handling equipment and in-vessel parts. The core of ITER is the
‘Tokamak’ based doughnut-shaped vacuum vessel in which plasma is heated
and confined in magnetic fields, as no solid material could withstand the
extremely high temperature of the plasma necessary for fusion to occur at
around 150 million degrees Centigrade.

The construction of ITER, underway at Cadarache southern France, is the next
exciting phase of an international fusion development programme to meet the
world’s demand for clean and sustainable energy. It builds on the knowledge
gathered from various global fusion energy projects including the Joint
European Torus (JET) fusion reactor in Oxfordshire UK, where, almost thirty
years ago, the first plasma was achieved by fusing light atoms.

Calling upon all of TWI’s technical specialisms and encompassing many metallic
and composite materials, the support TWI will provide to F4E will include:
engineering and materials studies; assessment and testing of joining
technologies including destructive and non-destructive testing; specification of
design and manufacturing procedures; failure analysis; technical audits; and
ensuring appropriate certification, validation and qualification of all procedures
and personnel involved in the build of components for the reactor.

TWI Chief Executive Christoph Wiesner commented, ‘TWI has supported fusion
projects for over 30 years as the science has developed from concept into
reality. The award of this contract by F4E recognises TWI’s unique expertise and
independence in all aspects of materials joining technology, which are critical
for the design and fabrication of the reactor components and ultimately to the
success of the ITER project. TWI is very proud to play its part in this project
which has a vital role in the world’s drive to secure sustainable, low carbon
forms of power generation.’