Leading cryogenic technology manufacturer, INOXCVA has completed its contribution to the ITER nuclear fusion project based in Cadarache, France.
ITER is a collaboration between seven member countries to demonstrate nuclear fusion as a clean, green source of unlimited energy with the ultimate aim to provide cheaper energy to the world.
Having delivered its contribution to ITER on the 29th July of this year, INOXCVA’s efforts include the manufacturing of Group-Y cryolines and Group-W warmlines for the project. Made in Gujarat, India, the cryolines span a total network length of around 4km and will carry cryogens at 4 K (equal to -269 °C) and at a slightly warmer 80 K (equal to -193 °C).
Such low temperatures are required by the project due to the need to produce and sustain plasmas ten times hotter than the core of the sun. With extreme cold causing embrittlement of conventional materials, the cryolines were constructed from special-grade austenitic stainless steel.
The process pipes of the cryolines posed a challenge to engineers during manufacturing, as the ITER requirements specified a diameter of up to just 700mm. The warmlines span a total network length of around 6km and are designed to carry nitrogen and helium at room temperatures in addition to connecting various pieces of cryogenic equipment.
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