Periodic review for Test Blanket Module Program

6 May 2013 - Luciano Giancarli, Section Leader Test Blanket Modules Section

��ߺ�� will provide a unique opportunity to test mockups of breeding blankets, called Test Blanket Modules (TBM), in a real fusion environment. The ninth TBM Program Committee convened from April 25-26 to review the implementation of the TBM program.

The ninth meeting of the ��ߺ�� Council Test Blanket Module (TBM) Program Committee took place on 25-26 April.

The TBM Program Committee twice a year to review the implementation of TBM program—including the Members' Test Blanket Systems and the ��ߺ��'s TBM integration activities—and to report to the ��ߺ�� Council. The Program Committee reviews the status of the within the ��ߺ��, TBM design and R&D progress within the ��ߺ�� Members, and the status of corresponding milestones.

The main objectives of this ninth meeting were to define the short-term steps that need to be performed in order to keep to the present Baseline schedule for the TBM Program as well as possible corrective actions which should be pursued in case of delays. Participants noted that the TBM Program schedule is closely linked to that of several ��ߺ�� components (e.g., nuclear buildings); therefore, the coherence of the schedules needs to be continuously monitored.

Among the key milestones for the TBM Program are the signing of the six specific TBM Arrangements (TBMAs) that correspond to the formal implementation of each Test Blanket System in ��ߺ��. Following the endorsement of the TBM Arrangement by the ��ߺ�� Council at its last meeting in June 2012, each ��ߺ�� Member with responsibility for a TBM System (denoted a "TBM Leader") has started the preparation of the draft of the corresponding specific TBMA and evaluated a realistic date for its signature by the Director-General and the designated ��ߺ�� Member representative. These dates, ranging from January to December 2014, were reviewed and noted by the Committee.

The first component delivery associated with the TBM Program is expected as early as 2016: the Test Blanket System connection pipes will connect the components located in the TBM equatorial port cell to the components located in other rooms of the Tokamak Complex via the corresponding shaft and/or the corridor. These connection pipes belong to the six Test Blanket Systems and should therefore be procured by the relevant ��ߺ�� Members. The TBM Program Committee agreed, in principle, to transfer responsibility for this procurement to the ��ߺ�� since it is advantageous to implement a common and unique procurement. The corresponding scope of the compensation, in terms of finance and human resources, was also agreed.

The TBM Program Committee also took note of the status of the activities of the Test Blanket Program Working Group (TBP-WG) on Radwaste Management. Its Chair, PK Wattal, reported on the work performed by the ��ߺ�� Members to evaluate the expected volume and characteristics of the radwaste and on the corresponding classification performed by Agence ��ߺ�� France, the official entity which the Host State has charged with the future management of ��ߺ�� radwaste. Issues associated with the transporting of irradiated TBMs to the owner countries were also addressed.

The outcomes of this ninth meeting of the Test Blanket Module (TBM) Program Committee will reported to the ��ߺ�� Council meeting in June.

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