Summary of NCSX SIT Meeting of Monday, Feb. 10, 2003

1. Announcements (Hutch)

* FY-04 budget is favorable for NCSX. The MIE project is fully funded, increasing from $11M to $16M, closely following the acquisition plan.  Research Prep at PPPL+ORNL is cut from $779k to $715k, however and lags the $1,200k called for in the acquisition plan.

* QPS is cut ~20% to $946k, and project start is delayed to FY05.

* The CR has been extended until Feb. 20 and there is now growing possibility of it lasiting all year. NCSX will develop what-if scenarios for the rest of 03 and for 04, with and without MCWF and VV R&D in FY-03. ACTION: Hutch, Ron.

2. Critical Issues (Brad, Wayne)

* Establishing the baseline VV geometry.

Art Brooks' talk last week demonstrated a new tool ready for VV sizing. The radial build was recently updated by ORNL. It was decided that we will proceed as follows:

- Noting that the 60-degree cross section cross section is at the open end of the period where it is accessible after the coils are installed, reduce the assembly clearance requirement at that cross section to much less than an inch. Put a hard "bumper" there to protect against collisions during assembly. After assembly, remove the bumper and stuff in the insulation. Modify Art's code to accurately model the scarf joint at this location.

- Generate a new vacuum vessel using Art's analysis of the CDR vessel as guidance. Push in the vacuum vessel at the tight spot in the 30-degree cross section to increase assembly clearance there.

- Evaluate feasibility of assembly with the new vacuum vessel using Art's code. Evaluate adequacy of interior space for trim coils, launchers, mag. diagnostics, PFC, SOL, plasma. Decide if we can live with it.

- Options for further increases in vessel volume if needed: segmenting the vacuum vessel, re-visit one-coil-at-a-time assembly, examine local reductions in assembly clearance, radially stagger the winding packs in places.

* Waviness in the modular coils.

Wavy patterns seen in the M50 coils are exacerbating crowding problems in some regions. It may be possible to smooth them out without affecting the physics. It was decided to try:

- Dave Williamson and Dennis Strickler will apply some local smoothing and deliver smoothed, finite-build coils to Physics for evaluation.

- Physics will evaluate the smoothed coils to assess impact on physics properties and surfaces.

* Modular coil current density.

The current density in the copper has gone up due to changes in insulation thickness and maybe clamp dimensions. Pulse length has been impacted. Sub-cooling of the coils was proposed as a solution.

* Modular coil cooling configuration.

We have settled on the copper strips with cooled clamps as the baseline. An internal R&D program is being planned to determine how to implement this design.

* Manufacturing R&D

Vendor studies for the PDR will be based on CDR design data because of delays in developing the new baseline. It is expected that this will be sufficiently representative of the baseline design for PDR purposes. The contracts will be carefully managed to avoid authorizing supplier tasks that would have to be re-done with the new design.

* TF / PF configuration

Tom Brown has made progress and is currently focussed on a wedged design. A presentation will be given soon.

* GRD

Needs to be updated, signed off, and issued.

3.  EIR and PDR Preparation Plans (Hutch)

A first-cut EIR preparation plan, based on scope items provided by Greg Pitonak, was issued. Responsibilities were assigned for each item. Any comments or changes to Hutch.

A PDR preparation plan is being developed and will be issued soon. ACTION: Hutch, Wayne.

4. Next SIT Meeting: Monday, Feb. 17 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Summary by:

Hutch Neilson