Design and fabrication of the active feedback control coils for EAST

Abstract

As the active feedback control coils are located inside vacuum vessel, a reasonable design is important not only for safe operation of the coils but also for reliable operation of EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak). There are some different characteristics from other coils in the design and fabrication of the coils, such as the insulation structure bearing the high baking temperature, the insulation joint with special flexible structure and the brazing method of the large size conductor inside vacuum vessel. All joints of coils are located outside the vacuum vessel for providing more connection. The conductors of the coils are designed inside the stainless steel tube and actively water cooled to prevent overheating. The ceramic rings with fiberglass tapes are used to separate the conductors and the steel tube. This insulation structure adopted in the coils can bear the high baking temperature of the vacuum vessel and its details are given in the paper. For protecting the hermetic and insulating property of the insulation joint, the small bellows is located on insulation joints to eliminate the forces on the insulator. In the fabrication, the coils are built in sections and then assembled together to form whole coils inside the vacuum vessel. The 8 kHz frequency induction heater is used to braze the conductors for cutting short brazing time and reducing heating area. The electromagnetic loads acting on the current leaders, the electrical parameters of the coil and the coil temperature are also analyzed in this paper.