Manufacture and test of seismic bellows for ITER magnet feeder

Abstract

This paper presents the key manufacturing and testing processes of the prototype ITER feeder seismic bellows. The design of the double bellows was iterated with the results of analysis based on the Expansion Joint Manufacturers Association (EJMA) standard. Each inner and outer bellows was supported in dedicated molds and formed by a hydraulic pressure machine rated at 800tons. The double bellows were constructed by welding individual collars to the end flanges. The seismic bellows was tested with cyclic pressurization of the interlayer space to 2bars absolute pressure for 5 cycles. This was followed by 200 cycles of tensile fatigue test with 90mm of stretching from the nominal design length. After the mechanical fatigue test, a full tensile test with 315mm of stretching from its nominal length was conducted. Helium leak tests, with the sensitivity of the helium leak detector set to 1×10−9Pam3/s of helium, were performed at different stages of pressure and mechanical tests. The prototype bellows was qualified for its leak tightness at all time during the qualification test.