Operations Analysis of the Unscheduled Summer Machine Opening of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 8 / Number 1P2A / July 1985 / Pages 296-301
Operation and Maintenance / Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40060
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
During experimental operation, a problem developed with the mechanical integrity of the TFTR surface pumping system neutralizer plates that required a vacuum vessel entry for repairs. This problem, coupled with several less significant machine internal problems that had been developing, forced the decision to make an unscheduled vacuum vessel entry. An extended machine outage at that time would have had a severe impact on the experimental schedule. Therefore, the goal was to make repairs and return the vacuum vessel to a clean condition as quickly as possible. The total time required between the end of regularly scheduled activity and restoration of the machine capability to routinely obtain 1 MA disruption-free plasma was 12 days.
