Design and construction of WENDELSTEIN 7-X

Following the approval by EURATOM and the German government WENDELSTEIN 7-X (W7-X) is presently the largest fusion project under construction. W7-X is a helical advanced stellarator (HELIAS) which produces the confining magnet field only by magnet coils that enables steady-state operation. W7-X aims to demonstrate that the HELIAS configuration has the potential for a future power reactor. The successful application of new technologies for manufacturing prototypes and the positive results gained from tests allowed to design the machine in detail and to order major components. The geometry of the non-planar magnet coils has a considerable impact on the design of the machine in particular on the shape of the plasma vessel, positioning of the plasma-facing components and the size and orientation of the ports. The requirement for steady-state operation has consequences for many subsystems of W7-X. The magnet coils need to be superconducting and cooled to liquid helium temperature. Gyrotrons shall continuously provide 10 MW of ECR heating power. The divertor must be cooled to withstand heat loads of up to 10 MW/m2. The schedule of W7-X is determined by the delivery dates of the non-planar coils, the plasma vessel and the outer vessel. Start of commissioning and scientific operation is scheduled for spring 2006.