Structural Qualification of ITER Central Solenoid Module During Transport From California, USA to ITER Site

The central solenoid (CS) is the heart of the ITER tokamak and serves as a critical element in the ITER magnet system. The CS consists of six large high field superconducting magnets (Modules) approximately 4 meters in diameter and 2 meters tall that weigh approximately 110 metric tonnes each. The central solenoid modules (CSM) are being fabricated and tested at a manufacturing site in Poway, California. Upon completion of each module, they will be shipped from California, USA to the ITER facility in Cadarache, France by both land (girder truck) and ocean (freighter). The structurally flexible Helium (He) piping system and temporary instrumentation cable spool racks will experience deformations and stresses from a wide range of transport accelerations (harmonic and shock-type excitation). Design-basis static accelerations are adopted from applicable codes which envelop both land and water transport. Two finite element (FE) models developed in ANSYS are used to simulate the effects of these static accelerations on the CSM. Rigid body dynamics fundamentals help identify the importance of excitation and natural frequencies, shock load duration and transmissibility. Modal analysis estimates the response of the piping system to harmonic loads. Shock load transmission to the piping and spool rack are also assessed. FE models of the CSM He piping system and cable spool rack provide stress results developed from applied accelerations. The paper describes the assessments performed on the CSM piping and cable storage systems for various transport loads, prior to the shipment of the first CSM. Furthermore, the acceleration data collected from the successful transport of first three modules are evaluated with respect to implications for the CSM transport loads.