Speaker
Description
The RFX experiment has been in operation since 1991. Subsequently, following significant upgrades to the toroidal assembly and power supply systems, RFX-mod began operation in 2004, while the original vacuum and gas injection systems remained unchanged.
Thanks to funding obtained within the framework of the NEFERTARI project under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), a project was launched to design and construct a new vacuum system specifically conceived to serve and support the experimental activities of RFX-mod2.
The main functions of the vacuum system are:
- evacuation of the vacuum vessel from atmospheric pressure down to operational conditions (10-6-10-7 mbar);
- maintenance of proper vacuum conditions inside the vessel during experimental operations (H₂, D₂, He) and during first-wall conditioning processes (GDC, PDC, boronization).
The upgrade involved the complete refurbishment of the fore-vacuum section, including the installation of two primary pumping units, each consisting of a roots pump combined with a screw pump, along with the corresponding DN160 piping. For the high-vacuum section, the existing turbomolecular pumps (featuring a weighted rotor design) were retained, while new sensors and valves were installed to improve control and operational reliability.
The control system was entirely redesigned to manage not only the vacuum plant and the injection systems, but also the boronization plant.
The management of the supply contract, the most economically significant within the NEFERTARI project, required close collaboration among ISTP, CRFX, and the contractor company, highlighting the importance of effective coordination between research institutions and industry in the realization of complex high-performance facilities.