Design and fabrication methods of FW/blanket, divertor and vacuum vessel for ITER

Design has progressed on the vacuum vessel, FW/blanket and Divertor for the Reduced Technical Objective/Reduced Cost (RTO/RC) ITER. The basic function s and structures are the same as for the 1998 ITER design [K. Ioki et al., J. Nucl. Mater. 258-263 (1998) 74]. Design and fabrication methods of the c omponents have been improved to achieve similar to 50% reduction of the con struction cost. Detailed blanket module designs with hat separable FW panel s have been developed to reduce the fabrication cost and the future radioac tive waste. Most of the R&D performed so far during the Engineering Design Activities (EDAs) are still applicable. Further cost reduction methods are also being investigated and additional R&D is being performed. (C) 2000 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.