Development of the remote handling connector for ITER divertor diagnostic system

Diagnostics is a vital system for ITER to collect information during operation. Mineral insulated cables route the electrical and optical diagnostics sensor signals from the divertor area to the diagnostic hall. The diagnostic divertor cassettes are replaced during maintenance, which raises the requirement for a connector between divertor cassette and in-vessel wall. Since it needs to be handled remotely during the installation of the 16 diagnostic divertor cassettes, it is called Remote Handling Connector. Its operating space is limited and its environmental conditions are ultra-high vacuum, baking temperature 350 degrees C, irradiation and challenging electromagnetic forces. The preliminary design of the Remote Handling Connector is based on the conceptual design of Outboard and Inboard Configurations and is highly impacted by finding an appropriate balance between the external and internal space limitations and system requirements. The design of the system has been an iterative process including several conceptual and mechanical design phases, thermal, magnetic and structural load analysis, risk analysis, and remote handling assessment. Mock-ups were manufactured and tested at Divertor Test Platform 2 and Remote Handling Connector Platform at VTT Tampere Finland. The developed system was evaluated at a preliminary design review meeting organized at the end of 2019. The preliminary design phase provides a baseline for the final design of the Remote Handling Connector system.