INOX INDIA LIMITED [INOXCVA] bags international cryo-scientific contract for ITER Project

Various laboratories in the world have successfully demonstrated the initiation of fusion reaction when two hydrogen isotopes fuse together to form Helium and produce heat during this nuclear reaction. To prove viability of such energy generation on industrial scale, global cooperation was initiated.

The Agency leading this global initiative, ITER   will be the world's largest experimental facility to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The project, name ITER which also means “the way” in Latin, is being constructed presently at St. Paul-lez Durance, in the South of France.   The construction cost of ITER  is estimated at 13 billion Euros over ten years. A unique feature of this project is that it is being realized through in kind contribution from seven partners, namely,  China, EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and USA.   

The Cryogenic technology will be extensively used  for the ITER project to create and maintain low-temperature conditions near absolute zero for the superconducting magnets, cryo-pumps to create vacuum  and some diagnostics systems.  Long and complex  Cryogenic transfer lines will be required for transporting the  cold power from  the source to the superconducting magnets as well as to  other systems.  Institute for Plasma Research has also made significant advancement in fusion technology with operation of the indigenously built Aditya and SST-1 Tokamak machines. ITER-India, a specially empowered group in the Institute for Plasma Research is executing the in-kind commitments to ITER for fulfilling the Indian contribution.   

INOX INDIA LIMITED has been awarded contract for providing part of the equipment for transporting the  cold energy through vacuum jacketed transfer lines to the cryogenic users, by ITER India.  It is a moment of pride for India, since this is first cryogenic contribution on such scale by an Indian company to an international project.

The contract includes Design, Manufacture of multi process pipe transfer lines with vacuum jacket to retain cold fluid and have them installed at ITER site in France.  The contract starts from 2014 and supply is envisaged to be completed by 2017 with installation by 2019. A major milestone envisaged in near future is the actual test of a real-sized mockup in a dedicated test-facility in IPR.

INOXCVA has been pushing the limits of cryogenic technology and is propelling it to new frontiers. Leveraging its cutting-edge engineering expertise and resources developed over the years of experience with clients in over 100 countries, the company has a large global market share and a product range that covers industrial gas, oil, gas field equipment, and LNG. Its cryogenic concepts and products have proven themselves for critical applications and are making a world of a difference in high-tech environments.

INOXCVA has specially created a CryoScientific Division to deal with specialized work and this Division has requisite infrastructure and engineering team to accomplish the challenges. This group has already completed the first assignment of designing prototype cryoline for the ITER project, which has been successfully evaluated and approved by international experts and therefore this group has been entrusted by ITER-India with execution of the Project.