Turgi, Switzerland, February 11, 2016. Ampegon has received a new order for the W7-X (Wendelstein 7-X) stellarator fusion research device. In 1999 Ampegon was successfully awarded the contract to supply the existing four power supply systems to the Max-Planck-Institut in Greifswald (IPP), Germany. The latest contract includes a cutting edge technology high voltage power source and the upgrade of the existing systems with Ampegon’s advanced UCS control system.
The power supply for W7-X is divided into two units to power NBI as well as ECRH heating systems. Thereby the output voltage can be either continuous or modulated up to 1 kHz with an arbitrary waveform. Each unit is capable to supply 140 GHz gyrotrons with up to 65 kV and 70 A continuous output. Additionally, both units can operate in series to reach 130 kV / 50 A continuous output for gyrotron tests and may also be operated in dual polarity. During the NBI operation mode the system is capable of supplying a pulsed output current of 130 A maximum. The power supply systems already in operation have demonstrated top performance and the highest reliability over the past 10 years of plasma research preparation and testing.
Max-Planck-Institut for Plasma Physics conducts research to investigate the physical basis of a fusion. Such a plant is to generate energy from the fusion of atomic nuclei. The W7-X stellarator, a € 1 bn experimental device to demonstrate continuous operation under plasma conditions relevant for power plants, successfully achieved a hydrogen plasma on February 3, 2016, following activation by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a special ceremony.
Ampegon has a long track record of successful installations in the scientific field. The company has already delivered similar equipment to GSI, PSI, CERN, DESY and many others. Ampegon is also one of the technology partners of the ITER project for the delivery of ECRH power supply systems. In addition, high voltage power supplies or amplifiers for major plasma heating systems (ECRH, ICRH lower hybrid and NBI) have been developed for various fusion research facilities worldwide, such as CRPP Lausanne, IPP Garching, KIT Karlsruhe, General Atomics, San Diego and MIT Boston.
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