Alternative conceptual design of a magnet support structure for plasma fusion devices of stellarator type

Engineering design of magnet coil support structures for plasma fusion devices of the stellarator type are at present an important task in stellarator hardware R&D activities. In particular this is one of the basic core components in developing the stellarator's line in view of a robust and reliable fusion reactor. Based on long time experience in design and structural analyses of stellarator magnet systems and their support structure, the authors are proposing in this paper an alternative conceptual design for the magnet support structure. This paper describes the basic assumptions that a conceptual design of a magnet support structure has to fulfil. In this context, essential experiences gathered during manufacturing and assembly of the magnet support structure for a current stellarator fusion device engineered at Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics are taken into account. The concept provides flexibility in matters of readjustment and positional optimization of the magnet coils during the assembly phase and potentially during the operation. The flexibility during the assembly phase allows a simplification of technical requirements and performance criteria which may result in a reduction of costs and improved reliability of a stellarator based power device. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.