Technology development and mass production of Nb3Sn conductors for ITER toroidal field coils in Japan

Abstract

The design and manufacture of Nb3Sn conductors for ITER toroidal field (TF) coils have many technical challenges. Although it was demonstrated in the ITER model coil project that the conductors have a sufficiently high performance and the engineering design is valid, unexpected issues arose. Through both theoretical and experimental efforts improved conductors were developed. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency started to procure improved conductors for TF coils as part of the ITER project. Because the required tonnage of Nb3Sn strands is quite large compared with past experience and the required superconducting performance is higher than that of the model coils, quality control techniques are very important for the successful manufacture of the strands. Approximately 60 ton of Nb3Sn strands have been successfully completed under a severe quality control regimen and all strands meet ITER specifications. This paper summarizes the technical developments leading to the first successful mass production of ITER TF conductors.