Summary of NCSX System Integration Team (SIT) Meeting of Monday, December 20, 2004

1.    Accomplishments 

  a.. The first MCWF casting was poured at MetalTek this morning at 5:00 a.m. 
  b.. Installation of the cladding on the twisted racetrack is going well now.


2.    Critical Issues (Wayne)

  a.. Concerns raised by Major Tool regarding deformation control in the vicinity of the large ports.

    a.. The concern is that the vessel might tend to preferentially deflect inward (toward the plasma) when the port extensions are welded on. They are asking for our input on risk mitigation. 
    b.. The response recommended by Engineering is to tell them to design their tooling for the “nominal” profile rather than biasing it outward.  The SIT endorsed this response. 
    c.. The reason is that if the vessel were out of tolerance on the high side it could interfere with assembly and have major cost and schedule impact. The encroachment on the plasma SOL, if the vessel were out of tolerance on the low side, would impact operation to a degree.

  b.. TF Design Schedule slippage

    a.. Test results from CTD concerning the epoxy shear strength were inconclusive. The project’s response is to design around that issue. Electrical insulation integrity will be enhanced by wrapping a layer of kapton around the conductor. Mechanical integrity will be enhanced with a thicker ground wrap. 
    b.. The test results and necessity to re-design has set the schedule back. New schedule: complete the analysis by Jan. 5, drawing modifications by mid-January, PDR by about Jan. 25. 
    c.. It was suggested that it would be good to have a broader discussion of the TF design to make sure that if there are any more issues they are surfaced now. Brad has scheduled a WBS 1 technical meeting on this topic for Dec. 22 at 9:00.


3.   Safety and Security  (Hutch)

  a.. The SIT and Project staff are urged to read the accident investigation report of the arc flash accident that occurred at SLAC on Oct. 11. The report is available at:

  https://reports.eh.doe.gov/csa/accidents/typea/Type_A_Electrical_Arc_SLAC_20041011.pdf. 

  a.. Visitors to PPPL are the responsibility of their hosts. Hosts need to be aware of what their visitors are doing, and ensure that they adhere to PPPL safety and security regulations.  An informal survey of the SIT indicated that when we have visitors it is not always clear who the official host is.  Action: Hutch to research PPPL visitor hosting procedures.


4.  Project Control (Ron)

  a.. December job status meeting will be Friday, Jan. 7 starting at 8:30 a.m. 
  b.. ECP will be submitted in January to addresses variances associated with retired risks: EIO pre-production casting, MC winding R&D, Project Physics.  Estimated contingency required to cover these variances is $455k.  We need to look for offsets to reduce the contingency to something closer to $300k.  Possibilities: cheaper VV field weld test article, re-use of NSTX PF1a coils for the central solenoid. 
  c.. We will aim to decide on adopting the NSTX PF1a coil by Jan. 10.  Issues include adequacy of breakdown voltage and flux swing. Action: Mike Z. review PF1a capabilities vs. needs.


5.   Next Lehman Review 

  a.. The SIT favors the week of June 20, 2005 for the next Lehman review. Action: Hutch follow up with PPPL director’s office and DOE. 


6.   Next SIT Meeting: Monday,  Jan. 3, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Summary by:
Hutch Neilson