Nov 28 2006
The European testing centre for the maintenance systems of the ITER fusion test reactor established at VTT in Tampere, Finland, is proceeding. The construction work on the centre has already begun and is progressing well. The international researcher exchange was also launched at the beginning of November in order to train experts for the testing centre.
The construction of the steel structures of the testing centre for ITER's maintenance systems is currently in progress; the installation work on the robotics and control systems will begin next spring. The basic structures in Tampere will be supplied by TP-Konepajat, located in Tampere, which won the demanding international competitive tendering process. The other parties come from Spain and Luxembourg.
The training of the experts elected for the ITER and fusion project began in November. Two Finnish, two British and two French researchers participate in the training. The target organisations where the researchers rotate are CEA in France, Oxford Technologies in the U.K. and Tampere University of Technology (TUT) and VTT in Finland.
The massive test equipment for the ITER fusion power plant is located in VTT and TUT's international ROViR development centre. ROViR (Remote Operation and Virtual Reality Centre) is a centre developing industrial design and control systems, based on combining the solid expertise of VTT and TUT's hydraulics and automation department.
Remote operation and virtual technologies play a central role in the maintenance of the ITER reactor, but they possess huge application potential for the industry as well. The aim is to use the ROViR centre to introduce the research results related to ITER research, the largest research project in the world, for use by companies to improve their productivity and competitiveness.
The agreement on the construction of the ITER fusion test plant was signed in Paris on 21 November. Fusion energy is a promising alternative especially for the production of basic power. The advantages of fusion are practically limitless fuel resources, safety, and environmental and climate friendliness.