Mass production of NbSn conductors for ITER toroidal field coils in Japan

Takahashi, Yoshikazu; Isono, Takaaki; Hamada, Kazuya; Nunoya, Yoshihiko; Nabara, Yoshihiro; Matsui, Kunihiro; Hemmi, Tsutomu; Kawano, Katsumi; Koizumi, Norikiyo; Oshikiri, Masayuki; Uno, Yasuhiro*; Tsutsumi, Fumiaki; Yoshikawa, Masatoshi*; Nakajima, Hideo; Okuno, Kiyoshi; Tsuzuku, Seiji*; Ishibashi, Tatsuji*; Murakami, Yukinobu*; Yamashita, Atsushi*; Teshima, Osamu*

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is the first to start the mass production of the TF conductors in Phase IV in March 2010 among the 6 parties who are procuring TF conductors in the ITER project. The conductor is cable-in-conduit conductor with a central spiral. A total of 900 NbSn strands and 522 copper strands are cabled around the central spiral and then wrapped with stainless steel tape whose thickness is 0.1 mm. Approximately 60 tons of NbSn strands were manufactured by the two suppliers in December 2010. This amount corresponds to approximately 55% of the total contribution from Japan. Approximately 30% of the total contribution from Japan was completed as of February 2011. JAEA is manufacturing one conductor per month under a contract with two Japanese companies for strands, one company for cabling and one company for jacketing. This paper summarizes the technical developments including a high-level quality assurance. This progress is a significant step in the construction of the ITER machine.