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ITER-NL

MissionSupported by European Atomic Community (Euratom) as part of the European Fusion Programme

  • Prepare Dutch scientists for effective participation in the ITER operation phase 2020-2042 through the development of advanced scientific equipment for ITER.
  • Prepare Dutch Industry for successful tender for ITER procurements during the ITER construction phase of 2010-2020.

 See also www.iter-nl.nl and Annual Report and Visitors Guide 2009.

Organisation

ITER-NL was established in 2007 funded by the Dutch FES programme and consists of the organisations FOM (Basic Physics Research), TNO (Applied Physics Research) and NRG (Nuclear Research Group). In 2010 TU/E (Eindhoven University) joined the consortium. ITER-NL is led by an Executive Board made up of one member of each organisation and is chaired by Noud Oomens (FOM). The overseeing Council consists of two members of each organisation and is led by Tini Hooymans (TNO). The programme has currently entered its second phase 2010-2013.

Scientific expertise

Fusion researchers in the Netherlands have gained unique expertise in measuring and manipulating plasma turbulence. This subject is at the heart of the ITER objectives. Control over plasma turbulence is critical to the success of ITER, and is one of the most challenging scientific subjects within the project. By exploiting this expertise, Dutch researchers in collaboration with industry are well positioned to play a key role in the development of ITER technology and instrumentation.

Programme

The ITER-NL programme is built around three scientific sub-systems of ITER:
• The Upper Port Launcher for Electron Cyclotron Heating and Current Drive (UPL)
• The Upper Port Charge-Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy diagnostics (UPV)
• The Equatorial Port LIDAR Thomson scattering diagnostics
 

The upper port launcher for ECRH (Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating), refered to as the Upper Port Launcher or UPL, is used to suppress destabilising turbulent phenomena. The upper port CXRS (Charge Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy) or Upper Port Viewer or UPV, is a diagnostics for measuring turbulence in temperature, density and magnetic fields inside the plasma. Plasma rotation, known to stabilize turbulence, can also be measured by the UPV. LIDAR is used to measure electron temperature and density including its turbulent character.

Scientific Collaboration

European scientific consortia play a key role in the development of these sub-systems. ITER-NL is part of the ECHUL consortium, further consisting of KIT (leader), CRPP, IPP Garching and Uni-Milano-CNR. ITER-NL is also part of the UPV consortium together with the Forschungs Zentrum Jülich and of the LIDAR consortium led by CCFE.

Collaboration with Industry

ITER-NL prepares Dutch Industry for successful tender on ITER procurements through early participation in the development of these ITER sub-systems. In general, ITER-NL provides information and training for tendering action, including industry meetings on forthcoming tenders, training on procurement standards including QA, nuclear safety and project management and by facilitating consortium formation through the Industrial Liaison Officers (ILO) network. In particular, the participation of SMEs is fostered through their participation in the ITER-NL programme. For succeful tender, industry must have the right qualifications. Like in space technology, not only technological qualifications, but also project management, quality assurance, risk management and financial management are part of the selection criteria.

Opportunities for Industry

Procurement opportunities are offered through the European procurement agency for ITER, Fusion for Energy (F4E) in Barcelona. Information on forthcoming tenders is provided through the F4E Industrial portal http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/procurementsgrants/industryportal.aspx. In addition, the ITER organistion itself offers a limited amount of tender opportunities open to all ITER parties. The Dutch Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) facilitates the Dutch tender participation and consortium formation. A Dutch industrial return of appximately M€ 60 is aimed for. In addition, high technology spin-off may yield additional returns in related markets.

Contact

Name                            Position                            email                                   Telephone

Gieljan de Vries               Media Contact Point            iter-nl [te] differ [dot] nl               +31 30 6096902

Toon Verhoeven              Industrial Liaison Officer      verhoeven [te] differ [dot] nl        +31 30 6096857