• Wayne: Since our last SIT meeting, NCSX response to the recent ISM review were discussed with PPPL ES&H Division and incorporated into the Lab’s action plan. No changes in the NCSX responses.  Responsibility: Hutch track the actions to closure.
• Mike W.: An internal audit of PPPL’s lockout/tagout (LOTO) program is under way, and expected to be completed next week. Expected outcomes will be some streamlining of PPPL procedure (ESH-016) and changes in the training, but no major changes in the program.  Mike W. will follow through with the audit and take the lead on changes in procedures and training. No major issues seen for NCSX at this time.
  

• Results of C1 testing and future test plans (Wayne)
  
  • Analysis of test results and recommendations for future work are nearly complete. A peer review will be scheduled in the near future, probably next week.
  • Preliminary conclusions (subject to review): adopt fiber optic strain gauges for the stellarator. Re-test C1 in January with the repaired lead area, fiber optic strain gauges, LN manifolding design recently developed, and cryostat cooling improvements.
  • Cost estimates for C1 re-test and per-coil costs of any future coil tests will be presented at the peer review.
    
• Field Period Assembly risks and planning issues (Wayne)
  
  • Updated plans for field period assembly design and operations are being developed in conjunction with the job managers, Brown and Viola. The goal is to incorporate the updated plans into the performance measurement baseline in the next 2 weeks, working with Strykowsky.  Risks are being addressed as part of the planning, highlighted by the following main risks:
  • Risk #1: Availability of Brown for FPA design, due to demands on his time from other work packages, e.g. MC and VV Title III issues. Planning will take this into account realistically.
  • Risk #2: Concerns about the parts fitting together. For example interferences with as-cast surfaces on the MCWF. Expect that some grinding will be required. Mitigation options include pre-fitting of parts and additional metrology, but these are not budgeted.
    
• Design Integration (WBS 19, 82).  Concern raised by Mike C. that this area is inadequately covered, due to demands on Brown and Cole.  Action: Wayne and Mike C. discuss offline.
• MCWF issues, e.g. overstocked areas on Type A.  These will be on the agenda for MCWF Contract Status meeting with EIO and MTM at PPPL, August 10.  Provide agenda input to Hutch.  Action: Hutch issue draft agenda for comment.
• Additional coil winding fixture (Hutch):  The project has decided to install an additional fixture in the coil manufacturing facility. Estimated cost is about $100k. Assessment is that it would provide additional flexibility and benefit the schedule by at least enough to pay for itself, without adding staff. Staff could be increased in the future if deemed appropriate, but that is not the plan at this time.
  

• PPPL has formally replied to Faul request, promising analysis results by Sept. 15.
• ETC update will take into account new developments or understanding since the May Lehman review, such as MCWF and MC cost and schedule trends, new coil winding fixture, coil testing conclusions noted above, FPA planning update noted above, design integration changes if needed.
• Hutch proposed a scheduling logic for the remaining work, noting two classes of work:
  
  • Class A (Completing the stellarator core out to the PF coils-  high technical risk): modular, TF, and PF coils; vacuum vessel assembly; base structure; coil structures; field period assembly; machine assembly.
  • Class B (Interfacing the core to the existing infrastructure- low technical risk): cryostat, trim coils, power supplies, I&C, cryo. system, coil services; integrated testing.
    

It was proposed that the work should be scheduled with the Class A work, the remaining contingency, the remaining system engineering effort, and most of the management effort front-loaded in FY07-08 in order to minimize the risks to completing the stellarator core with the $32M of funding available in those years.  The Class B work would be back-loaded in FY08-09, accepting higher cost & schedule risks in those tasks. Comments on the proposal were requested.  Action: Hutch follow up with Ron to analyze the proposed logic.

• Mike W. is compiling estimates for equipment upgrades, identified by Mike Z., needed to prepare for the first year of plasma physics operations in FY-11.  Estimate inputs are being provided by:
  
  • Brent Stratton: diagnostics
  • Elmer Fredd: ECH
  • Brad Nelson: internal hardware
  • Larry Dudek: bakeout, cryogenics
  • Bill Blanchard: vacuum systems
  • Tim Stevenson: NBI
  • Paul Sichta: controls
  • Raki Ramakrishnan: power supplies
    

The results will be issued in spreadsheet format this Friday, Aug. 11. After that, Ron and Mike Z. will schedule the work and fit it into the expected funding profile.

• It was also discussed that estimates for operating & maintenance costs in FY09-11 will be needed.
  

• The first NCSX Research Forum will be December 7 (afternoon) and December 8 (morning), immediately following the NSTX Research Form scheduled for Dec. 5-7.  As currently envisioned, the Dec. 7 session will be mainly informational, with presentations by the NCSX team and time for Q&A.  The Dec. 8 session is intended to provide an opportunity for more in-depth community feedback, e.g. via structured breakout sessions or possibly less formal discussions. The specifics need to be worked out.  Action: Hutch follow up with NSTX and OFES regarding the announcement.  Mike Z. and Jim continue to flesh out the specifics.