From series production of gyrotrons for W7-X towards EU-1 MW gyrotrons for ITER

Abstract

Summary form only given. Europe is spending joint efforts to develop and to manufacture MW-level gyrotrons for electron cyclotron heating and current drive (ECRH&ECCD) of future plasma experiments. The two most important are the stellarator Wendelstein W7-X at Greifswald and the tokamak ITER at Cadarache. The construction of the 140 GHz, 1 MW CW gyrotrons for the 10 MW ECRH system of W7-X is proceeding well. It is expected that the next series tube will have finished final acceptance tests well in spring 2013. According to plan, production of the gyrotrons for W7-X will be finalized by 2014. This report will summarize the actual status. In parallel to the production and testing of the W7-X gyrotrons, the European GYrotron Consortium (EGYC) is presently developing the EU-1 MW, 170 GHz gyrotron for ITER. That design had been initiated in 2007 already, as a risk mitigation measure during the development of the advanced EU ITER-2 MW coaxial-cavity gyrotron. The basic idea of the EU ITER-1 MW design is to benefit from the experiences made during development and series production of the W7-X gyrotrons and of the experiences gained from the 2 MW coaxial-cavity gyrotron design. Preliminary designs of the cavity and the magnetron injection gun have been presented earlier. During 2012, the scientific design of the EU ITER-1 MW gyrotron components has been finalized. In collaboration with the industrial partner Thales Electron Devices, the industrial design of the technological parts of the gyrotron is being completed. A short pulse prototype gyrotron is under development to support the design of the CW prototype tube. The technological path towards the EU ITER-1MW gyrotron and the final design will be presented.