Prototype Design and Test of ITER PF Converter Unit

This paper presents the design and testing of the full scale prototype of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) poloidial field converter unit (PFCU), which is mainly composed of converter transformer, converter module, external bypass, and dc reactors with a rated capacity of 82 MVA and a rated dc current of 55 kA. Considering the space limitation, the high safety and reliability requirements, the nonsame-phase antiparallel connection structure, and the fault suppression capability criterion are applied in the prototype design. After the completion of the preliminary design of the PFCU in summer 2012, the detailed prototype structure design and the manufacturing of the PFCU were launched and completed at the end of 2013, then the following main type tests, including short circuit current test and temperature rise test on the main components of the PFCU, have been done on the ITER power supply test platform at ASIPP site. In addition, the PFCU integration test has also been done to verify the system operation performance. The prototype test results are well in compliance with the design requirements of the ITER PF converter system. It indicates that the full scale prototype research and development of PFCU has been accomplished successfully.