Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
April 21, 2009


FY2009 weeks of research operations:
Target: TBD
Completed: 0 weeks


Alternator
----------

Following a routine inspection of the alternator in the summer of 2008,
the original equipment manufacturer recommended that the generator rotor
not be returned to service. Subsequently, we embarked on a process to
re-evaluate the rotor's fitness for service. This process has involved
multiple steps: a complete non-destructive evaluation (NDE)
re-inspection, including boresonic ultrasound imaging, visual inspection
and surface eddy current probing; removal of two bore sample rings;
extensive materials testing of the bore samples, including chemical
analysis, tensile, fracture toughness and crack growth measurements, and
microstructure and fractographic analysis. Two outside companies,
experts in the field of generator rotor safety evaluation for the
electrical utility industry, were contracted to examine all of the data
(both NDE and from the materials samples), and to give their independent
recommendations with regard to fitness for service of our rotor. All
materials tests showed that the rotor steel has good properties, well
beyond the “conservative” assumptions normally used by industry
consultants in the absence of actual measurements on a specific
rotor. Both outside expert companies have certified that the rotor is
fit for continued service, with large margins of safety. A panel of
experts assembled by MIT's Vice President for Research has concurred
with these findings and recommendations, and last week the Vice
President endorsed return to service for the alternator. Re-assembly of
the alternator is scheduled to begin early next week.


C-Mod Reassembly
----------------

The horizontal port extensions needed for installation of the ICRF
antennas have been installed, and re-assembly of the antennas in-vessel
has begun. Installation of the cryostat that surrounds the machine has
also begun. After inspection and re-plating, re-assembly of the
power room TF and PF bus system was started.


Lower Hybrid System
-------------------

Fabrication of the 4-way splitter prototype housing has been completed
and preparations are being made to braze the windows into the waveguides
for installation on the prototype. High power testing of the prototype
is expected to begin next week. Four of the production 4-way splitters
(out of sixteen) are complete and undergoing inspection before the four
front waveguides housing the vacuum windows are welded in place.
Development of rf probe electronics continued last week. Re-assembly of
the alternator is scheduled to begin early next week.


ICRF Systems
------------

All low power components needed for the RF Control System Upgrade have
been specified and are on order. Layout of the Master Fault Processor
Mezzanine board continued last week. The FMIT#3 transmitter driver will
be ready for tests into a dummy load this week. The driver stage will
be used to power the rf test stand.


Travel and Visits
-----------------

Steve Wolfe participated remotely in the Meeting of the ITER Research
Plan Working Group in Caderache, France, April 15-17. This group, headed
by David Campbell, IO, is updating and extending the ITER Research Plan
Document. Version 2 is to be presented at the 6th meeting of the ITER
Science and Technology Advisory Committee (May 25-27). The other
U.S. members of the Working Group are Michael Bell, PPPL, Stan Milora,
ORNL, Ed Synakowski, LLNL, and Mickey Wade, GA.

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