NPO"GKMP" LLC hits a third thermonuclear contract
The LLC Research and production company “GKMP” has signed a contract with the Russian Federation Domestic Agency“ITER-Center”for production of Port Plug Test Facility components in 2022.
In 2020 the “NPOGKMP”LLC won the tender and was awarded a contract to develop a design project and set up production ofPortPlugTestFacilitycomponents (PPTF).
Within the last 2 years the company managed to implement works on PortPlugTestFacilitycomponents manufacture within the Detailed Schedulefor testing equatorial and upper port plugs of ITER reactor. Today the project implementation is progressing well.
As of this moment, the construction of ITER reactor seems to be unfolding in its most spectacular phase: the assembly of the vacuum vessel is still ongoing, along with magnetic and auxiliary systems. The giant is getting its shape.
On the photo: Assemblyof the Test Stankinthecleanroomof “NPO GKMP” LLC.
2022 is expected to be a tough year either for ITER project, or for the NPO"GKMP" LLC, as well as for the Russian suppliers involved in this international project in general:a few major deliveries and the manufacturing completion of one of the PPTF are anticipated.
To boost the further cooperation and engagement in the biggest scientific and research project, the NPO"GKMP" LLC and Russian Federation Domestic Agency “ITER-Center”have agreed to sign a contract to develop a design project and manufacturing of PPTF componentsin 2022.
The work package set forth in the contract includes Integrated Factory Acceptance Test of a non-nuclear Test StandNo.4 in the clean room and preparation for delivery tothe ITER Organization site. Furthermore, this will be followed by the next Test StandNo.3 to be manufacturedfor the European Domestic Agency.
On the photo: Phased array ultrasonic device in production area of the “NPO GKMP” LLC.
Apart from the performance check of every system of Test Stand No. 4 during Factory Acceptance Test, it is crucial to verify that the first deliverable Stand (which is precisely the Stand No.4)operates properly in thermocycling mode, to check the heating/cooling uniformity of the Test Tank, as well as the efficiency of the Port Plug installed in the Test Tank. Such tests are known as IntegratedFactory Acceptance Tests.
Along with manufacturing of non-nuclear systems, the “NPO GKMP”LLC shall develop documentation for nuclear Test Stands No.1 and No. 2 in order to tackle the upcoming stage of the FDR (Final Design Review), and for the PSS (Pressure Suppression System), the system that ensures the emergency steam release to protect the PPTF inside the ITER Hot Cell.
“Since 2020 the activities have well advanced: the company had mastered a unique welding technique for austenitic steel over 300 mm thickness, managed to anneal large steel semi-products in its own vacuum furnace, built up the clean room for factory testing with the surface area exceeding 1400 m2. Vacuum and non-destructive control laboratories are operating continuously, as states Nikolai Inutin, Director General of the “NPO GKMP” LLC.
On the photo: Vacuum chamber (Test Tank)of thePort Plugs Test Facility.
Despite the complicated geopolitical environment and need to reconsider capacities of the European supply chains, the project emphasizes the importance of on-time delivery of works impacted by new sanctions. The Russian enterprises like the LLC “NPO GKMP” duly fulfil their obligations to produce and deliver hardware designed for the future facility. The main objective is to complete the project within the estimated timescale, as the agreement with ITER does not imply to exclude of any party, thus showing that the project stands aloof of the politics.
© Photo: ITER-Russia
Irrespective of the sanctions, the Russian companies have the full support of the ITER management. No geopolitical process may affect the fundamental science of the thermonuclear fusion, neither the ITER project and the role Russia plays in it, - says Olesya Solovyeva, Head of the ITER project in LLC “NPO GKMP”.
About project
ITER project is created within the framework of an international agreement between China, the EU, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA. The reactor was originally designed by Russian scientists; the Tokamak system is considered to be the most advanced unit capable to ensure a controlled thermonuclear synthesis. The objective of the project is to demonstrate that the thermonuclear energycan be used on large scale. The scope of ITER project can be compared to those of the International Space Station and Large Hadron collider.
Russia is assigned to manufacture and deliver 25 cutting-edge systems for the future facility. In late July 2020 the phase of reactor assembly and installation was initiated. The construction is planned to be completed in 2025.
ITER is being constructed in the South of France near the Cadarache center.
