Assembly Sequence

The compact spherical tokamak is assembled from the centerpost outward, with the vessel, magnets, blanket, and diagnostics installed in dependency order.

Building from the core out

A spherical tokamak concentrates its structure at the center, so assembly proceeds broadly from the centerpost and central column outward. The order is set by physical dependencies: each component must be installed before the ones that surround or connect to it.

Broad sequence

• Foundation and shielding structure at the selected site
• Centerpost and central column installation
• Toroidal-field magnet assembly and vacuum vessel integration
• Breeding blanket modules and divertor installation
• Cryogenic, vacuum, and power connections
• Diagnostics and instrumentation fit-out

Why order matters

Once the vessel is closed and the magnets are in place, interior access is limited. Blanket modules, the divertor, and internal diagnostics are therefore installed before final closure. Getting the sequence wrong forces disassembly, which is why the assembly plan is fixed and rehearsed before the first component arrives.

Interfaces with logistics

Heavy components, the vessel, magnets, and centerpost, must arrive in installation order. This couples the assembly sequence to the supply chain and site logistics: a late long-lead item stalls everything downstream of it, which is why magnet and vessel procurement lead the schedule.

This describes the intended assembly of a machine not yet built. The sequence is a plan that the first-of-a-kind build will test and the manufacturing plan will refine for NOAK.