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Description
The multi-process pipe vacuum jacketed cryolines for the ITER project are probably world’s most complex cryolines in terms of layout, load cases, quality, safety and regulatory requirements. The risk mitigation plan of Indian Domestic Agency (IN DA), who is responsible for the supply and installation of ITER cryolines, included design, manufacturing and testing of prototype cryoline (PTCL) before the approval of final design of ITER cryolines.
The 28 meter long PTCL consist of 6 process pipes encased by thermal shield inside outer vacuum jacket (OVJ) of DN 600 size and carries cold helium at 4.5K and 80K. The global heat load limit was defined as 1.2 W/m at 4.5K and 4.5 W/m at 80K. The PTCL-X (PTCL for Group-X cryolines) was specified in detail by ITER-India and designed as well as manufactured by Air Liquide. PTCL-X was installed at ITER-India Cryogenic Laboratory in during July-August-2016, pressure and leak tests at room temperature were performed in September-2016 followed by cold test in October-2016. The temperatures, pressures and mass flow of helium flowing through PTCL-X were measured during the cold test. The heat load at 4.5K and 80K, estimated using enthalpy difference method, was found to be approximately 0.8 W/m at 4.5K, 4.2 W/m at 80K, which is well within the defined limits. Thermal shield temperature profile was also found to be satisfactory. Paper summarizes the cold test results of PTCL-X.