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Client
Undisclosed
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Business need
Characterisation of structural, material and manufacturing requirements for Turbomolecular Vacuum Pumps, to solve existing issues related to strong magnetic fields.
Overview
A significant consideration for the tritium fuel cycle of commercial fusion devices is provision of a suitable vacuum environment for the plasma. This case study presents an assessment of Turbomolecular Pumps (TMPs) for use in high magnetic fields for use in a fusion reactor.
The Challenge
TMPs are required in fusion environments to maintain a high vacuum. However, since the rotors are made from aluminium (a conductive material) and rotate at high speed, they are not compatible with strong magnetic fields experienced in the vicinity of the vacuum vessel, due to eddy current heating and forcing issues. Therefore, an investigation was carried out to find alternative rotor materials that would be suitable for a TMP and improve the capability to operate in the strong magnetic fields found in fusion reactors.