Tokamak fusion reactor plant assembly, logistics and critical issues

A tokamak fusion reactor will be an installation with linear sizes of a sin gle assembly element of similar to 10-20 m and a weight > 1000 t. Similar w eights can be handled at a construction site by commercially available equi pment. But a problem is created by the combination of high weights and larg e dimensions of the components with tight installation tolerances driven by plasma physics requirements. To overcome this problem, the best available metrology techniques with 3-D real time computer modeling and specially sel ected assembly procedures are needed at all stages of production and assemb ly. Some of the biggest components i.e. poloidal coils must be produced at the construction site. Some smaller components must be preassembled at the site to accelerate construction. Adequate space with proper environmental c ontrol must be provided for these operations. These and other consideration s determine the logistics of a fusion plant assembly. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.