Prof. G.Rostagni, former RFX president and historical member of BA SC (Broader Approach Steering Committee) and Dr. G. Piovan, RFX director, visited Rokkasho on 23rd October 2015. Prof. G. Rostagni is our most senior supporter, following various attempts to visit Rokkasho, it has been possible his visit after almost 7 years from the last time at Rokkasho
Greeting to the Deputy Mayor, Susumu Hashimoto-san
The agenda of the meeting was eventful, started with the greeting visit to the deputy mayor of Rokkasho Susumu Hashimoto-san accompanied by G. Pruneri, K. Sakamoto and K.Hirata respectively; Section leader ILIC Unit, deputy IFMIF/EVEDA Project Manager and JAEA site Public Affair Manager.
To follow, chronologically, were visited: Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited Facility (JNFL), Wind Power Generation System and Solar Power Generation System, all facilities are located within Rokkasho area. Lunch took place at Rokka Pokka, the famous SPA in Rokkasho.
In the afternoon were made some presentations by K. Tobita (IFERC Director) on IFERC status and future plan, G. Pruneri and K. Okiai, respectively on IFMIF/EVEDA status and the introduction of activities foreseen by JAEA, for a post BA project (A-FNS)
Afterwards took place a visit to the LINAc Accelerator, Computer Center and Demo R&D Center, with a comprehensive detailed explanation of the facilities, respectively given by K. Sakamoto-G.Pruneri, Y. Ishii-K.Tobita and H. Tanigawa – S. Nakamichi
Visit to Computer CenterLIPAc (RF Power Supply Area)
Finally the visit ended at Misawa, to the Takara-sushi restaurant for a dinner, with a very delicious food and with a pleasant attendance of BA activities’ management: S. Ohira, K. Sakamoto, K.Tobita, K. Okumura, K. Ochiai, G. Pruneri and F. Scantamburlo.
16th meeting of the Broader Approach Steering Committee
Naka (Japan), 21 April 2015
The Broader Approach Agreement between the EU and Japan supports the ITER project and the realization of fusion as a clean and sustainable source of energy for peaceful purposes.
The Broader Approach Agreement encompasses three research projects:
“IFMIF/EVEDA”, to prepare for the construction of a materials test facility for future fusion reactors;
The International Fusion Energy Research Centre (IFERC);
The Satellite Tokamak Programme JT-60SA, a major upgrade of the tokamak JT-60
The working site for IFMIF/EVEDA and IFERC is Rokkasho (Japan), the site of the Satellite Tokamak Programme is Naka (Japan).
The Broader Approach is now in its eighth year and has become a model for effective international scientific collaboration, strengthening cooperation between the EU and Japan in delivering fusion as an energy source for the future.
Today (21 April 2015) representatives of the EU and Japan met at Naka Fusion Institute (Naka, Japan) for the 16th meeting of the Broader Approach Steering Committee and approved the 2014 Annual Reports and updates of the Project Plans for the three projects.
The initial beam test of the injector of the Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator in Rokkasho began producing scientific results in November 2014. The EVEDA Lithium Test Loop in Oarai has successfully demonstrated stable lithium flow for IFMIF operating conditions and has now completed its mission. The Test Facility Validation activities have been successfully accomplished.
The Helios supercomputing system (Roku-chan) has been in routine use since 2012 by researchers from the EU and JA resulting in many high-quality scientific papers. The Intermediate Report on DEMO Design has been complied focusing on a technical perspective of DEMO on the basis of evaluation and assessment of critical design issues. The DEMO R&D project has studied the compatibility of SiC and SiCf/SiC composites with liquid Pb-Li alloy. The results have been added to the database for the study of the liquid blanket.
The main components manufactured in Europe – the Quench Protection Circuit, the High Temperature Superconducting Current Leads and the Cryoplant for the superconducting magnet, have now been delivered and are being installed. Nine of the ten Vacuum Vessel sections are already sitting on the base and the welding of the sections is progressing well.
These remarkable achievements were celebrated by a ceremony on 20th April attended by dignitaries from Japan and the EU which included representatives of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The Steering Committee expressed appreciation for the great efforts of the Aomori Prefecture and Rokkasho Village in producing high quality living and educational support for the EU researchers and their families in Rokkasho.
The 17th Broader Approach Steering Committee meeting will be held in Italy on 11 December 2015.
The 8th LIPAc Technical Meeting (LTM08) was held at the Garching antenna of Fusion for Energy (F4E) from 24th to 26th November 2015. More than 30 experts from different involved institutes, including CEA (Saclay, France), INFN (Legnaro, Italy), JAEA (Rokkasho, Japan), CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain), F4E (Garching, Germany) and the IFMIF/EVEDA Project Team; attended the meeting. In addition, Japanese experts from KEK and J-PARC were invited to attend on behalf of JAEA.
The first day was devoted to satellite meetings where the cryomodule assembly and licensing; and the control system were discussed in detail.
Detailed technical information was presented highlighting the significant progress that has been made for the manufacture and installation of various components since the previous LTM07 (held in Rokkasho on 15-17 June). The progress on Injector commissioning, as shown by the Deputy Director of the Department of Fusion Reactor Materials research at the JAEA Rokkasho Fusion Institute, Keishi Sakamoto, on behalf of Yoshikazu Okumura, the Head of the ILIC unit; was warmly appreciated.
Key activities which were completed on site during 2015 include:
29 June : Establishing the radiation controlled area
7 July : 1st D+ beam
15 July : Facility inspection
1 Sep : 1st arrival of the RF module to Rokkasho
9 Sep : Start phase A-2
22 Oct : Injector LCS upgrade
9-13 Nov : Injector resistor repair
The main outcomes presented during the meeting are listed below:
Injector
Injector commissioning resumed on 22nd April, and the first deuterium beam was produced two months later on 22nd July 2015 after receiving the authorization from the Regulatory Authority on 15th July. With the change of the plasma electrode aperture diameter from 10 mm to 12 mm, a 100keV/145mA/9.5% Deuteron beam was produced. The upgrade and integration of the Local Control System into Central Control System was completed on 23rd October.
RF power systems
Installation of seven HVPS’s and two RF modules for the RFQ, transformers and the HV breakers on the electrical platform was nearly completed. While the activity continues, there has also been much progress in the installation of cable trays inside the RF area.
RFQ
The RFQ will be shipped from Legnaro (Italy) to Japan by air freight by the end of January 2016, while the associated cooling skid, piping and accessories will be shipped during December 2015. All remaining components will be shipped to Rokkasho by the end of April 2016.
On behalf of JAEA, Feedback was provided by Morishita-san explaining his experience of RFQ construction, installation and commissioning at J-PARC in Japan.
MEBT
With the exception of the second buncher, for which the tests are ongoing, all MEBT subcomponents have passed their acceptance tests. The assembly of the subcomponents is approaching completion, and it is expected that the complete MEBT will be sent to Rokkasho by the end of January 2016.
LPBD
Manufacture of The LPBD is underway, and will be completed in early 2016.
SRF Linac
Manufacturing contracts for all critical components have been placed, and the tender process for a number of non-critical-path items has started. Licensing activities for the complete cryomodule continue, and informal approval for the cavity design has been given by KHK. Formal approval is expected soon.
Sakai-san (KEK) presented KEK’s experience of installation and commissioning of the cERL SRF LINAc. While the cERL LINAc is fundamentally different to IFMIF / EVEDA’s, the presentation provided useful insight which will be considered as the detailed cryomodule assembly procedure is developed.
D-Plate
Assembly of the D-plate is nearing completion, and the fully integrated and aligned assembly will be ready for shipment at the end of January 2016.
HEBT/Beam Dump
The water cooling skid was recently tested and is now ready for shipment. Preparation of the shipping contract is underway, and the skid will be shipped by the end of December 2015. The main components of the Beam Dump conceptually designed and the detailed design is progressing. Technical specifications for a number of HEBT components are nearing completion and several manufacturing contracts have been launched, particularly electro deposition for the inner cone which started in November 2015
PPS-MPS
The Personnel Protection System has been modified to comply with regulatory requirements. The Machine Protection System has been enhanced to comply with the evolving operational requirements for injector commissioning. The Injector LCS has been fully integrated into the CCS.
A pleasant event on the second evening of the meetings was held at restaurant “Maisberger hotel” at Neufahrn
Our 7th IFMIF Workshop took place during three days the 3rd week of May in Brasimone under the warm host of ENEA.
The scenarios we are living, with DONES in Europe and A-FSN in Japan being discussed, allows to state that this has been our last, so called, IFMIF Workshop, what does not mean that future similar encounters will take place.
The technical discussions were intense and fruitful, also were the unforgettable gastronomical satellite meetings organized by Gioacchino.
The Spanish Scientific Counsellor, Santiago Herrero Amigo, visited Rokkasho on 7 September and witnessed the recently arrived components of the RF Power system, one of the various top technology hardware of Spanish contribution to LIPAc.
In the afternoon, he had an official encounter with Mamoru Toda, the mayor of Rokkasho, accompanied by IFMIF/EVEDA Project Manager, Shigeru O’hira and IFMIF/EVEDA Project Leader, Juan Knaster.
We are proud to announce that the first components of the LIPAc’s RF Power System have arrived at Rokkasho site.
After a long sea travel from Spain, three containers reached Hachinohe port on 28th August. Devanning at the port and transportation from Hachinohe to Rokkasho took three days starting from 31st August.
Containers at Hachinohe Port (left); and truck loaded and ready to depart to Rokkasho (right)
A total of fifteen packages were delivered to Rokkasho site; including seven RF high voltage power supplies (HVPS), two RF Modules, three electrical distribution cabinets, and auxiliaries.
From 2nd to 4th September, NKK Company opened all the wooden crates and started the installation of the components, which is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
RF Power System’s wooden crates staged at the RF Power Bay Area (right) and two RF Modules (main and circulator platform) ready for its installation (right)
After almost five years since we arrived in Japan, my wife and I continue to astonish ourselves for the attractiveness and oddities that surround us.
We were impressed of the simplicity, morality and straightforwardness of the Japanese people; even though various events of daily life are often diametrically divergent and sometimes appear to me strange compared to the standards and customs of my home country, Italy.
For instance, it was a surprise to me to see the Japanese postman delivering the mail during wintertime; this might be normal worldwide, but in Japan, the peculiarity is that the postman delivers mail during winter, driving a motorcycle even during heavy snowfalls, with roads covered in white and slippery snow, and often icy! Saturday and Sunday they still work regularly, 365 days per year the service is available and very efficient.
In Italy, Postmen use as well the motorcycle or bike, season allowing, normally is preferable a small car.
The 5th LIPAc Technical Meeting (LTM05) was held at Legnaro (PD)-LNL (Italy) from 3rd to 5th June 2014.
From 3rd to 5th June more than 40 participants coming from CEA (Saclay, France), INFN (Legnaro, Italy), JAEA (Rokkasho, Japan), CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain), F4E (Garching, Germany) and PT of IFMIF/EVEDA involved in the design, the manufacturing, the installation and the commissioning of LIPAc (Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator), met in Legnaro during our 5th LIPAc Technical Meeting.
Coupler under test
The status of the different components was presented. An important progress has been shown as well as important achievements reached:
The construction progress at Rokkasho site, with the injector installation ready for check-out and the first phase of the commissioning
The successful high power tests on the RFQ couplers developed by LNL, which reached a RF power above the initially specified 200 kW
The RF power system and its readiness for factory performance test at INDRA (Spain)
The MEBT components integration will be completed within January 2015.
The LPBD, which final design report was recently approved, will be delivered in August 2014.
The SRF Linac design and manufacturing are ongoing under the supervision of a dedicated working group.
Two couplers tip modules and aluminum coupling cavity will be ready on September 2014.
D-Plate will be completely assembled by November 2014 and ready for shipment by the end of 2015.
The HEBT and Beam Dump main components have been completely designed; technical specifications are almost fully prepared and several manufacturing contracts have been launched.
IMS (Interface Management System) was explained in details and emphasized its importance for the project.
The Central Control System – MPS – PPS & Diagnostics was properly addressed and the need of an important coordinated work among all stakeholders was agreed.
RFQ super module ready for power test
During the meeting a dedicated session was devoted to the visit of the RFQ test bench set-up for the high power tests which have to be performed on last 3 module of the high flux Super module planned in the forthcoming weeks. During the visit we get the chance to see the clean room for the module assembly as well as the RFQ full size aluminum mock-up used to experiment the tuning of the cavity during the bead pull measurement.
Within the forthcoming months, it was clearly highlighted that the components needed for the 2nd phase of the commissioning will arrive like a “tsunami” at Rokkasho. A lot of integration activities will have to be performed within our tight schedule.
The next LTM06 is planned from 26 to 28 November 2014 in Rokkasho (Japan)
A key milestone related with the LIPAc Installation and Commissioning activities, that are going on in Rokkasho, took place on Tuesday 14 October. The project management from JAEA, F4E and PT went together to Hachimangu Shintoist Shrine in Noheji to pray for the success of LIPAc. Each of us made an offer to the Gods asking for their divine support to our project. Our actions were blessed with wind and rain from the strong typhoon that was passing over Japan those days.
Project management from JAEA, F4E and PT at the Hachimangu Shrine in Noheji
From left to right: M. Sugimoto, K. Shoji, S. O’hira, K. Ushigusa, J. Knaster, Y. Okumura, P. Cara, R. Heidinger, A. Kasugai, K. Iizuka
Rokkasho, Japan, 07 August 2014 ; (courtesy of ITER newsline)
In Rokkasho, on the eastern coastline of Japan, Europe and Japan are jointly carrying out advanced R&D activities in support of ITER and for successful development of the phases after ITER. Termed the “Broader Approach,” these efforts have been underway since 2007.
In early August, the Director-General of the ITER Organization, Osamu Motojima, and ITER Council Secretary, Sachiko Ishizaka, visited Rokkasho for an update on Broader Approach activities and to share information about progress at ITER.
The activities of the Broader Approach are essential for the phases after ITER in the world fusion program. One project, IFMIF/EVEDA, is validating the concept for a fusion-relevant neutron source based on Li(d,xn) reactions and will permit the rapid construction of such a facility within cost and schedule less than a decade from the time that a decision is taken. IFERC, another BA project, not only holds a supercomputer dedicated to plasma simulations for the world fusion community (Helios), but is also implementing research efforts towards a (post-ITER) DEMO reactor. JT-60SA, being a BA project as well, is a fusion experiment designed to support the operation of ITER and to investigate how best to optimise the operation of fusion power plants that are built after ITER
After visiting the facilities, including the injector of LIPAc, the Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator (LIPAc) that is presently under installation and commissioning, the visitors from ITER were able to appreciate the sound advancements and robust health of the Broader Approach projects.
Photo caption: After meeting the management of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, ITER Director-General Motojima (second from left) gave a seminar to Broader Approach staff on the evolution of ITER. Juan Knaster, Project Leader of IFMIF/EVEDA (far left) and Noriyoshi Nakajima (not pictured), Project Leader of IFERC, explained the status of their respective projects and plans for the future. Council Secretary Sachiko Ishizaka is pictured fifth from right. Kenkichi Ushigusa, Director-General of Rokkasho Fusion Institute (JAEA) is pictured third from right.
