Fusion for Energy (F4E) has awarded a joint venture of Amec, Iberdrola Ingeniería y Construcción and Mecánica Industrial Buelna (MIB) a contract to develop and manufacture a prototype first wall panel for the ITER nuclear fusion reactor.
The first wall panels are a crucial part of the ITER project, forming part of a barrier that protects the vacuum vessel at the heart of the ITER machine from neutrons and other energetic particles produced in the fusion process. The joint venture successfully developed a one-sixth semi-prototype of a first wall panel under a contract awarded in 2013.
"The successful delivery of this contract is an important step along the road to the development of a fusion reactor," said Greg Willetts, Director of Amec's Consultancy Services business. "Our role will be to verify and provide technical design expertise in the fabrication, manufacturing and testing of a first wall panel using our unrivalled knowledge of hot isostatic pressing of metals which we have developed during the last decade."
MIB said that the contract would enable the firm to apply its expertise in advanced precision machining in a new market sector.
Francesco Zacchia, Blanket Module Responsible Officer at F4E said: "This contract represents an essential step towards our final goal to fabricate the first wall panels for ITER. We are looking forward to AMEC, Iberdrola and MIB solving the challenging manufacturing issues and to delivering on time with the expected high quality."
The ITER project in Caderache, southern France, aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of nuclear fusion.
Sian Crampsie
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