Control and instrumentation of the ITER coil power supply system

ITER is a large-scale nuclear fusion scientific experiment; the first to produce net energy. Its control and instrumentation will be complex, unique and challenging. Integrated and automated operation will require coordination of around 220 semi-autonomous plant system instrumentation & controls (I&C). The general design philosophy and architecture of the ITER I&C system is described, designed in two distinct horizontal layers; the central layer that ensures coordination and the local layer dedicated to the individual control of each plant system. Specifically, the I&C of the ITER coil power supply system is described, this system will be the main actuators to control the plasma shape and position. Unlike past and present fusion experiments operating in tens of seconds pulse mode, ITER will have plant systems operating in steady state mode with plasma pulse lengths running from a few hundred seconds to ultimately some tens of minutes. The paper highlights the challenges, techniques and strategies of the distributed control systems.