Clad Plates for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
Taking part in the international project of ITER, AO “EnergoMetall” manufactures billets for various thermonuclear reactor components which are being developed and manufactured by the D.V. Efremov Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus.
The main feature of all materials used in this project is the capability of working in the high vacuum media. Due to that, all initial metals used in both, base and clad layers, submit to the demands of the specification “ITER GRADE” and are subject to a number of additional tests, including those in cryogenic temperatures.
As part of the project, AO “EnergoMetall” manufactures two different types of billets.
Chrome-Zirconium Bronze and steel 316L-IG Clad plates are normally used for manufacturing heat exchanging elements of the reactor diverter. This Clad has a greater tear strength, minimum 300 MPa at 150 °С, as well as the absolute integrity which is confirmed by special 3D ultrasonic control equipment and the so-called “helium impermeability” tests.
Constructively, the entire load in the final product is concentrated around the plate counter with the 5 mm Clad edge. Therefore, the high vacuum operating area of the reactor is on the side, and the supercritical parameters cooling water is circulating on the other side.
In order to manufacture the case of the reactor poloidal field coil, AO Energometall had to solve a substandard problem of 3D cladding by developing a Clad plate with a non-flat cladding area.
Until recently, those contacts were manufactured by stamping on a flat billet press with the consequent extensive mechanical processing (company Nobelclad, France). AO EnergoMetall has produced the contact billet in one step with the exceptional quality of both, flat and radius connection areas to the Grade 316L stainless steel base.
All products are being accompanied by a set of quality approval documents, defined by the requirements of the State Corporation Rosatom and the project of ITER.