Design of a mechanically actuated RF grounding system for the ITER ICRH antenna

► The requirements for RF grounding of the ITER ICRH antenna are outlined. ► A number of early concepts are presented and reasons given for their rejection. ► The current grounding contact design is presented and its operation explained. ► Analysis and testing have been undertaken and these results are outlined. In the ITER equatorial ports containing ICRH antennas, parasitic electrical resonances can be excited in the nominal 20mm clearance gap between the port walls and the plug contained within it. RF calculations have established that these resonances can be effectively mitigated by a series of suitably located electrically conducting contacts between the port and plug. These contacts must allow installation and removal of the antenna but must also make reliable electrical contact during antenna operation. In addition, the contacts must be compliant enough to survive deflection of the port during seismic and disruption events without transmitting large forces to the vacuum vessel. The distance to be spanned is subject to significant uncertainty, due to the large manufacturing tolerances of the surrounding components, and this also must be considered during the design process. This paper outlines progress made in the design of the grounding system, as well as detailing a number of concepts which have been investigated and abandoned, leading up to the current reference design. The current reference design is a simple and robust mechanical solution consisting of sprung Copper-plated Inconel flaps which use part of the range of the shimming system included in the antenna design as the actuation mechanism. This paper also details practical testing of a number of aspects of the design, including building and testing a prototype to validate mechanical and thermal analyses.