Magnetic fusion : The magnet system

To create the magnetic fields necessary to operate the reactor, coils are used, in which high intensity electric current flows: constant current for toroidal coils and variable current for poloidal coils and the central solenoid. The use of superconducting coils gives access to long-duration plasmas while minimising electrical consumption.

Magnetic system of a Tokamak

The expertise of the Euratom-CEA Association in the design of large superconducting coils has been demonstrated since the implementation of Tore Supra in 1988 and in the course of operation of the superconducting toroidal magnet system free of any major problem over a period of 12 years.

The Euratom-CEA Association is deeply involved in the design of the ITER cryomagnetic system at several levels :

The general design of the magnetic system.
The design, manufacture monitoring and tests of ITER model coils.
The design, manufacture monitoring and tests of suprerconducting cables.
The design of superconducting connexions.

For more information :

La Fusion Par Confinement magnétique et la Supraconductivité. JL Duchateau, Revue Générale du Froid 11/2000
(7 pages, pdf, 60 ko,
Results of the first tests on the ITER toroidal magnet conductor (09-10/2001)
Tests of the ITER toroidal field coil model (07-09/2001)

Fusion Technology. Annual Report of the Association EURATOM/CEA
Magnets Activités

1998 issue : 20p, 665 ko, PDF
1999 issue : 11p, 631 ko, PDF
2000 issue : 22p, 1370 ko, PDF
2001 issue : 36p, 2921 ko, PDF
2002 issue : 30p, 2789 ko, PDF
2003 issue : 37p, 2960 ko, PDF
2004 issue (PDF)
   - pages 000-014 : Cover, contents, introduction (518 Ko)
   - pages 087-112 : EFDA activities: magnets (3 716 ko)
   - pages 207-214 : EFDA activities: ITER site studies (2 283 ko)
   - pages 215-218 : EFDA activities: design support (455 ko)
2005 issue (PDF)
   - pages 000-004 : Cover, contents, introduction (824 Ko)
   - pages 121-160 : EFDA activities: magnets (2 908 ko)
   - pages 301-306 : EFDA activities: design support (204 ko)
   - pages 285-296 : EFDA activities: "Reactor" studies (720 ko)
2006 issue (PDF)
   - pages 000-004 : Cover, contents, introduction (1.4 Mo)
   - pages 114-144 : EFDA activities: magnets (1.7 Mo)
   - pages 281-285 : EFDA activities: ITER site studies (0.5 Mo)
   - pages 271-280 : EFDA activities: "Reactor" studies (1.3 Mo)