Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC

Daniel Brunner

Brandon N Sorbom

Robert Mumgaard

John D Wright

Zachary S Hartwig

Philip Michael

Rui Vieira

William Beck

James Irby

Brian Labombard

Martin Greenwald

Robert S Granetz

Jeffrey Doody

Lihua Zhou

Alexey L Radovinsky

Shunichi Shiraiwa

Syun'ichi Shiraiwa

Alexey Radovinsky

Theodore Wyeth

Matthew Vernacchia

Christopher Craighill

Alexander Creely

Caroline Sorensen

Cody Dennett

Charlie Sanabria

Krishna Kiran Uppalapati

Caroline Sorensen Barthel

Techniques are described for automatically removing and replacing components, including a vacuum vessel, from a tokamak. The inventors have recognized that schemes for automatically removing and replacing components from a tokamak should preferably be simple (e.g., using proven equipment to perform a series of non-mechanically complex tasks) and have a very low risk of damaging components. Techniques described herein may include splitting a tokamak into multiple pieces, separating the pieces, and removing the now separate pieces of the vacuum vessel from within the pieces of the tokamak. A new vacuum vessel can be inserted in multiple pieces and the tokamak rejoined to complete the replacement process.

Techniques for automated maintenance of a tokamak and related systems and methods

Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Grooved, stacked-plate superconducting magnets and electrically conductive terminal blocks and related construction techniques

Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly&#x2014;which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways&#x2014;is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Grooved, stacked-plate superconducting magnets and electrically conductive terminal blocks

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Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Daniel Brunner