This department is responsible for the development, operation and protection of components inside the vacuum chamber (plasma components and heating systems).
These activities include :
- The development (design, manufacturing monitoring, qualification, development in a plasma environment) of plasma-facing components for fusion (first wall, limiters, divertors, antenna and nozzle protectors) and the operation of the associated test facilities;
- operation, maintenance, data validation and development of diagnostics associated with wall protection;
- operation, maintenance, data validation and development of plasma heating systems;
- responsibility for cross-functional activities relating to engineering, industrial monitoring, quality and project management support.
This department comprises 5 groups
Plasma Components Group
This group’s mission is to maintain and develop CEA’s expertise in the field of plasma components, particularly for WEST and ITER, but also for Asian machines (JT60SA, EAST, etc.) and DEMO. Design, manufacturing monitoring, qualification and ageing (including dust management) are an integral part of the group’s remit.
The Design and Fusion Engineering Group
This group provides IRFM projects with the resources, skills and methods needed to carry them out in the fields of mechanical design, validation (calculations, maintenance, simulations, design, codes and standards, assembly) and manufacturing monitoring. This group also provides resources for the production of components on site.
It maintains and develops a set of methods, tools and dedicated platforms (CAD tools, technical data management, calculation code, virtual reality room, workshop) enabling the group to carry out its missions and ensure traceability.
Plasma Heating System Group
This group is responsible for the maintenance, operation and development of heating systems at ionic cyclotron, low hybrid, electronic cyclotron and neutral particle injection frequencies.
This group develops and manages the collaborative networks required for its activities.
The Front Wall Protection Group
The group’s main mission is to control the protection of actively cooled first-wall components. To this end, the group develops and operates diagnostic and software tools. The group acts as prime contractor and/or project manager for the design and implementation of diagnostics, covering the entire production chain from sensor to signal processing. To this end, the group will develop and manage collaborative R&D activities (university labs, etc.) and participate in the operation of other Tokamaks (JET, EAST, etc.).
Systems and Projects Engineering Group
This group provides support and advice in terms of project management tools and methodologies, as well as standardising project quality processes at the IRFM.
