ITER blanket module connectors. Design, analysis and testing for procurement arrangement

The effort to develop a reliable and robust design of the BMCs in time for the signature of the Procurement Arrangement on BMCs between ITER Organization and Russian Federation in late 2014 spanned several years. It includes design and analysis as well as experimental activities by the ITER Organization and by JSC “NIKIET” (Russia), which, as an affirmed subcontractor will manufacture and supply BMCs to the ITER site. This paper summarizes the overall effort focusing in particular on the more recent PA supporting activities.