HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Completes Major Vacuum Vessel Assembly for ITER Fusion Project

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced its attendance at the 'KOREA-ITER Fusion Day' held at the ITER construction site in Cadarache, southern France, on Wednesday, July 22. This event marked a significant step towards the realization of future fusion energy with the successful completion of the final vacuum vessel sector module assembly for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).

The company manufactured four out of the nine vacuum vessel sectors that make up ITER. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries secured contracts for two sectors originally assigned to South Korea in 2010 and an additional two sectors allocated to the EU in 2016, delivering all four by 2024. The final sector module, combined with thermal shields and superconducting magnets, has now been moved to the Tokamak pit.

The event gathered approximately 150 participants, including representatives from South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, domestic companies, research institutes, and the ITER Organization. Discussions focused on ITER construction progress, South Korea's procurement achievements, and strategies for international cooperation in nuclear fusion.

The vacuum vessel is a critical component that encapsulates plasma exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius while maintaining an ultra-high vacuum. Despite their large size, the approximately 400-ton sectors require exceptional manufacturing precision and adherence to stringent safety and quality standards, including French regulations for nuclear pressure equipment. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries leveraged its expertise in mega-structure manufacturing, drawing from its shipbuilding and offshore plant construction capabilities.