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News from MAST - October 2007

 
 

MEB05, the fifth major engineering break in MAST’s eight years of operation, is well under way.  The two major tasks are:

  • the conversion  of the second neutral beam heating system to a JET-style PINI source, to enable more reliable, longer pulses
  • the installation of a set of ELM (Edge Localised Mode) coils.

Neutral Beam Injectors

Both MAST Neutral Beam Injectors, the South and SW, have been substantially dismantled.  The South beam, which was converted to a PINI a year ago, is being refurbished including the fitting of fresh getter pumps and a new neutraliser.  The SW beam is having a similar refurbishment but has also had the old Oak Ridge source removed which will be replaced with another JET-style PINI.  This has meant extensive modifications to some MAST area structural steelwork and the installation of a second floor to the high voltage enclosure around the injector.  After over two months work, all the structural and enclosure alterations have been completed and both neutral beams are within about a week of being vacuum tight.
 
 
Dave Sutton and his team installing a new steering flange assembly on the MAST SW injector.
 

 

PINI Conversion

The PINI conversion has also meant substantial electrical effort to install new power supplies for the PINI, including new HV cables to the PINI itself.  This work is on schedule and testing of power modules is well under way.

ELM Coils

A set of three prototype coils was installed in MAST a year ago and high current tests were successfully carried out. They have also been used during the last experimental campaign for TAE (Toroidal Alfven Eigenmode) damping rate studies.  The prototype coils are now being replaced by a full set of twelve coils, six upper and six lower, inside MAST.  Both mechanical and electrical work are on schedule, with the first six sets of coil brackets being completed inside the vessel and the power supply cabling being installed outside the vessel.
 

 
Geoff Lee and Stuart Green inside the MAST vessel, using an alignment jig to position brackets for one of the 12 ELM coils.
 

 

Much other work is also being carried out during the break, including maintenance of about half of the seventy two ports on MAST, cleaning of windows and rearrangement of diagnostics together with essential maintenance.  The ELM coils are due to be installed by Christmas 2007 with vessel closure and high temperature baking taking place in January 2008.

   
 

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