ITER CryoPlant Keeps Plasma at ~Absolute Zero using Helium
Feb 9, 2023
4 min read
The ITER nuclear fusion reactor, an international consortium led by the EU, is reliant on its cryogenic plant. The plant's equipment, with a combined weight of 5,500 tons and spread over 5,400 square meters, is tasked with cooling the reactor elements exposed to the greatest thermal stress, to temperatures as low as -269 ºC. It is made up of a liquid helium plant, a liquid nitrogen plant and auxiliary systems, as well as 5 km of pipelines, and is essential for the fusion of deuterium and tritium nuclei to occur. The ITER technicians will test the cryogenic equipment during the second half of 2023.