Manufacturing of the coil support structure for W7-X

Equipos Nucleates S.A. as one of the contractors for the Wendelstein 7-X Stellarator project is currently manufacturing the coil support structure (CSS), which is a stainless steel ring-shaped structure formed by five equal sectors (modules), each of them made up from two symmetric half-modules, everything joined together by way of bolts and super-bolts. This CSS works as the central support for both planar and non-planar coils. The complicate shape of the CSS allows the ports to pass through the structure and reach their place into the vacuum vessel. Furthermore, all the structure is cooled down by way of a copper coated stainless steel long pipe going through the entire structure. Liquid helium at 4 K will be used as coolant to refrigerate the entire structure. Temperature and stresses on the structure will be controlled by means of advanced temperature sensors and strain gauges glued to the structure. Equipos Nucleates collaborates both in the design and the manufacturing of the CSS with the highest and newest technologies such as 3D CAD systems, laser trackers for dimensional controls, tools, machines, non-destructives tests, etc. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.