Shanghai Electric has recently achieved significant milestones in the field of controlled nuclear fusion, delivering the world”s largest toroidal field coil casing and successfully transporting cold test cryostat equipment for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to France. These advancements highlight the technological prowess of Chinese companies in fostering global collaboration in nuclear fusion and accelerating the transition to clean energy.
As a leader in high-end equipment manufacturing in China, Shanghai Electric is dedicated to advancing fusion energy through technological innovation and international partnerships. “We will continue to leverage our strengths in high-performance manufacturing and engineering integration to provide robust support for significant global scientific projects like ITER,” stated Wu Lei, President of Shanghai Electric Group.
The recent technological deliveries not only mark significant progress for China in producing key components for fusion energy but also further solidify the nation”s role in the global supply chain for fusion research. In October, the cryostat for the magnet cold testing, co-manufactured by Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group and the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP), arrived by sea at the French port of Marseille. From there, it was meticulously transported over 70 kilometers inland to the ITER facilities in Cadarache.
As one of the seven main members of the ITER project, China collaborates with international partners to advance fusion technology from laboratory settings to commercialization. The joint team from Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group overcame stringent site constraints at ITER, including height, weight, and width limitations, completing manufacturing in just 11 months. They achieved millimeter-precise shaping of large contoured surfaces and anti-deformation assembly and welding of large casings and flat flanges with a significant diameter, as well as the initial vacuum and helium leak tests on an ultra-large vessel, establishing international standards for millimeter-level deformation control and high vacuum sealing at 10-4 mbar.
As the largest and most influential international scientific megaproject in the world, ITER brings together efforts from over 30 countries, including the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the United States, and China, aiming to achieve large-scale fusion reactions and move toward stable and controllable energy release.
Meanwhile, the world”s largest toroidal field coil casing, developed in collaboration with ASIPP, was delivered to the Comprehensive Research Center for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) in Hefei. Made entirely of austenitic stainless steel, this casing stands 21 meters tall and 12 meters wide, weighing approximately 400 tons—over 1.2 times larger and about double the weight of the equivalent component for ITER.
During the ministerial meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Fusion Energy Global Group and the 30th Fusion Energy Conference held on October 14 in Chengdu, Shanghai Electric showcased two decades of achievements in fusion equipment, covering EAST, CRAFT, BEST, HT 6M, and HL 1, alongside their industry-leading system solutions. This generated significant global interest and emphasized the role of fusion in combating climate change and meeting future energy demands.
Over the years, Shanghai Electric has tackled key technical challenges in fusion material research, hydrogen-boron fusion at megaamperes, and high-frequency deep penetration laser welding. These advancements have improved the performance of fusion devices under extreme conditions and provided replicable solutions, valuable experience, and a solid technological foundation for global fusion research.
For more information, visit Shanghai Electric.
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