Central Solenoid Module Assembly Underway

The central solenoid will be assembled from six cylindrical modules stacked one on top of the other. Weighing 110 tonnes and standing 2 metres high, each module is massive in its own right. Eighteen metal blocks, each weighing 6 tonnes, will brace the composite magnet from the bottom (9 lower key blocks) and the top (9 upper key blocks). Interior and exterior vertical tie plates will connect the key blocks to form a cage around the central solenoid and compress the modules in operation, adding more than 110 tonnes to the assembly.

All of these components, plus the necessary assembly tooling, are provided by US ITER.

Once finalized, the ITER central solenoid will be placed at the very centre of the Tokamak pit where the central column (a temporary assembly tool) presently stands.