Design optimization of first wall and breeder unit module size for the Indian HCCB blanket module

The Indian test blanket module(TBM) program in ITER is one of the major steps in the Indian fusion reactor program for carrying out the RD activities in the critical areas like design of tritium breeding blankets relevant to future Indian fusion devices(ITER relevant and DEMO).The Indian Lead–Lithium Cooled Ceramic Breeder(LLCB) blanket concept is one of the Indian DEMO relevant TBM,to be tested in ITER as a part of the TBM program.Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder(HCCB) is an alternative blanket concept that consists of lithium titanate(Li_2TiO_3) as ceramic breeder(CB) material in the form of packed pebble beds and beryllium as the neutron multiplier.Specifically,attentions are given to the optimization of first wall coolant channel design and size of breeder unit module considering coolant pressure and thermal loads for the proposed Indian HCCB blanket based on ITER relevant TBM and loading conditions.These analyses will help proceeding further in designing blankets for loads relevant to the future fusion device.     

Comparative studies for two different orientations of pebble bed in an HCCB blanket

The Indian Test Blanket Module(TBM) program in ITER is one of the major steps in its fusion reactor program towards DEMO and the future fusion power reactor vision. Research and development(RD) is focused on two types of breeding blanket concepts: lead–lithium ceramic breeder(LLCB) and helium-cooled ceramic breeder(HCCB) blanket systems for the DEMO reactor. As part of the ITER-TBM program, the LLCB concept will be tested in one-half of ITER port no. 2, whose materials and technologies will be tested during ITER operation. The HCCB concept is a variant of the solid breeder blanket, which is presently part of our domestic RD program for DEMO relevant technology development. In the HCCB concept Li_2TiO_3 and beryllium are used as the tritium breeder and neutron multiplier, respectively, in the form of a packed bed having edge-on configuration with reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel as the structural material. In this paper two design schemes, mainly two different orientations of pebble beds, are discussed. In the current concept(case-1), the ceramic breeder beds are kept horizontal in the toroidal–radial direction. Due to gravity, the pebbles may settle down at the bottom and create a finite gap between the pebbles and the top cooling plate, which will affect the heat transfer between them. In the alternate design concept(case-2), the pebble bed is vertically(poloidal–radial) orientated where the side plates act as cooling plates instead of top and bottom plates. These two design variants are analyzed analytically and 2 D thermal-hydraulic simulation studies are carried out with ANSYS, using the heat loads obtained from neutronic calculations.Based on the analysis the performance is compared and details of the thermal and radiative heat transfer studies are also discussed in this paper.     

Progress on design and R&D for helium-cooled ceramic breeder TBM in China

The helium-cooled ceramic breeder (HCCB) test blanket module (TBM) is the primary option of the Chinese TBM program. Current progress on the design and R&D for Chinese helium-cooled ceramic breeder TBM (CN HCCB TBM) in China is presented. The main updated design and related R&D of CN HCCB TBM are introduced briefly. The mock-up fabrication and component tests for Chinese test blanket module are being carried out. Recent status of the components and fabrication technology development is also reported. The neutron multiplier Be pebbles, tritium breeder Li₄SiO₄ pebbles, and structure material CFL-1 are being prepared in the laboratory scale. The fabrication of 1/3 sized mock-up and construction of a He test loop are being carried out. The key technology development is proceeding to the large scale mock-up fabrication and demonstration tests toward on ITER testing.     

Preliminary neutronic assessment of a helium-cooled Li8PbO6 breeding blanket design for DEMO

A preliminary neutronic assessment of the performances of a helium-cooled Li₈PbO₆ breeding blanket for the conceptual design of a DEMO fusion reactor is given. The study mainly focuses on TBR, power density responses and shielding factor optimization to estimate the feasibility of the design under the prescribed radiation deposition limits at TF-coils superconducting magnets. Computational analyses are based on three-dimensional 30° sector using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX 2.6. The scoping interest of helium-cooled Li₈PbO₆ blanket designs is based on a large potential minimization of the amount of Be required and the strong relaxation of ⁶Li enrichment requirements for this solution when compared to other solid breeder blanket options.     

New progress on design and R&D for solid breeder test blanket module in China

ITER will be used to test tritium breeding module concepts, which will lead to the design of DEMO fusion reactor demonstrating tritium self-sufficiency and the extraction of high grade heat for electricity production. China plans to test the HCCB TBM modules during different operation phases. Related design and R&D activities for each TBM module with the auxiliary system are introduced.The helium-cooled ceramic breeder (HCCB) test blanket module (TBM) is the primary option of the Chinese TBM program. The preliminary conceptual design of CN HCCB TBM has been completed. A modified design to reduce the RAFM material mass to 1.3 ton has been carried out based on the ITER technical requirement. Basic characteristics and main design parameters of CN HCCB TBM are introduced briefly. The mock-up fabrication and component tests for Chinese test blanket module are being developed. Recent status of the components of CN HCCB TBM and fabrication technology development are also reported. The neutron multiplier Be pebbles, tritium breeder Li₄SiO₄ pebbles, and structure material CLF-1 of ton-class are being prepared in laboratory scale. The fabrication of pebble bed container and experiment of tritium breeder pebble bed will be started soon. The fabrication technology development is proceeding as the large-scale mock-up fabrication enters into the R&D stage and demonstration tests toward TBM testing on ITER test port are being done as scheduled.     

超临界水冷固态实验包层中子学与热工水力特性研究

基于国际热核聚变实验堆(ITER)实验包层方案,提出了一个超临界水冷固态实验包层概念设计方案。设计采用Be作为中子倍增剂,Li4SiO4作为氚增殖剂,CLAM钢作为结构材料。包层第一壁采用多层盘道设计以提高第一壁出口温度,内部采用增殖剂与中子倍增剂分层布置以提高热沉积与氚增殖率。为验证包层设计的可行性,分析计算了三维包层氚增殖率与热沉积的分布,然后根据中子学计算得到的结果对超临界水冷固态实验包层进行了数值模拟研究。结果表明:包层功率密度分布较合理;氚增殖率满足运行中氚自持的要求;在冷却剂出口温度达到500℃条件下材料温度不超过限值。该设计方案能满足中子学设计与热工水力的要求。     

CFETR氦冷固态增殖剂包层产氚性能研究及优化

氦冷固态增殖剂包层是中国聚变工程实验堆（CFETR）的3种候选包层概念之一。本文基于中国核工业西南物理研究院提出的一种氦冷固态增殖剂包层概念，通过蒙特卡罗输运程序MCNP5建立了包层三维中子学模型，探究了不同几何布置方案及结构设计参数对包层产氚性能的影响，得到了全堆氚增殖比（TBR）及极向各包层模块产氚分布，并由优化后的模型得到了包层模块核热分布。结果表明，优化后的TBR达到1.177，满足氚自持的最低要求。     

聚变堆交叉冷却固态包层中子学设计优化

针对聚变堆固态包层设计路线,提出了一个交叉排列氦冷固态包层概念。设计采用Be、Li₂TiO₃分层球床。两种尺寸的氦气冷却管道交叉排列,分两个回路同时冷却,以增加系统安全可靠性。分析比较了4种⁶Li富集度布置方案。结果表明：径向远离第一壁降低⁶Li富集度较为合理,靠近第一壁的增殖层⁶Li富集度不能过低,以减少长期运行中Li的消耗对氚增殖性能的影响。借助蒙特卡罗程序MCNP建立11.25°对称模型,全堆包层氚增殖率为1.176,包层寿期内产氚性能稳定,在包层寿命运行时间内的燃耗分布相对均匀。     

CFETR氦冷陶瓷增殖包层在等离子体主破裂时的电磁结构耦合分析

增殖包层作为中国聚变工程实验堆(China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor,CFETR)的核心部件,承载着能量转换和氚增殖的重要作用。中国科学院等离子体物理研究所在之前增殖包层设计的基础上,又提出了氦冷陶瓷增殖(Helium Cooled Ceramic Breeder,HCCB)包层的概念设计。为评估电磁载荷对HCCB包层结构安全性的影响,借助通用有限元软件ANSYS,研究计算了在等离子体主破裂时包层中产生的感应涡流、洛伦兹力和力矩。通过多物理场耦合分析方法,获取了包层中产生的等效应力和形变位移。结果表明,在等离子体电流指数衰减时,HCCB包层模型上产生的最大等效应力和形变位移满足包层结构设计的要求,同时模拟分析结果也为未来的包层结构优化以及支撑结构设计提供了必要的数据支撑。     

高氚增殖比包层的设计及热工水力分析

本文设计了一种高氚增殖比包层(HBRB),该包层采用多孔U-10Zr合金作为中子倍增剂,Li4SiO4球床作为增殖剂,低活化马氏体(RAFM)钢作为结构材料。在详细研究包层加工工艺、流量分配、中子性能等问题的基础上,完成了包层内部详细结构设计。利用中子学软件分析计算了包层的氚增殖比(TBR)和热沉积分布,并根据计算结果对包层进行热力耦合分析。结果表明:包层TBR较高,且核性能稳定;冷却剂的流量分配情况和压降合理;包层内各组件冷却充分,温度和结构材料热应力不超过限值。     

D+注入Li4SiO4的表面化学状态及其热解吸行为

锂陶瓷氚增殖剂的氢同位素行为是聚变堆固态产氚包层关心的重要课题。本文将3 keV D⁺注入Li₄SiO₄,采用X射线光电子能谱在线分析注氘前后材料表面的化学状态,同时采用热解吸谱（TDS）实验技术,研究注氘后Li₄SiO₄中氢同位素的热解吸行为。实验结果表明：D⁺注入会改变Li₄SiO₄表面的化学环境,产生多种辐照缺陷和化学键合状态;氘滞留量和热解行为受注氘时样品的温度影响较大,可在一定程度上预测产氚包层中氚的滞留行为。     

Tritium diffusivity in crystal grain of Li2TiO3 and tritium release behavior under several purge gas conditions

It has been reported by the present authors that behavior of tritium release from solid breeder grain is consisted of diffusion in grain, tritium transfer at surface layer and surface reactions on grain surface such as adsorption or isotope exchange reactions. Tritium release curves estimated using the tritium release model gave good agreement with observed tritium release curves from Li₄SiO₄, Li₂ZrO₃ or LiAlO₂.

Tritium release behavior from Li₂TiO₃ under humid purge gas, dry purge gas and dry purge gas with hydrogen conditions is discussed in this study, tritium release curves using the release model that we proposed previously give a good agreements with experimental tritium release curves. Tritium effective diffusivity in the crystal grain of Li₂TiO₃ is also estimated in this study using a curve-fitting method applied to the release curves obtained under the humid purge gas condition. It is discussed that change of color of Li₂TiO₃ surface under hydrogen purge gas condition is observed and this phenomenon might affect tritium release behavior from Li₂TiO₃.     

Overview of design and thermal–hydraulic analysis of Indian solid breeder blanket concept

India has developed two concepts of breeding blanket for the DEMO reactor: one is Lead Lithium Ceramic Breeder (LLCB), and the other one is Helium-cooled Ceramic Breeder (HCCB) concept. Indian HCCB concept is having edge on configuration of helium-cooled solid breeder with RAFMS structure. Li₂TiO₃/Li₄SiO₄ and beryllium are used as the tritium breeder and neutron multiplier, respectively. 2D thermal–hydraulic simulation studies using ANSYS have been performed based on the heat load obtained from neutronics calculations to confirm heat removal under ITER pulsed operation. Transient thermal analysis has been simulated in ANSYS for the ITER relevant operational conditions. Thermal analysis provides important information about the temperature distribution in different materials used and their temperature–time histories. Result of thermal–hydraulic simulations shows that in each cycle, the maximum temperature of all materials remains same. The peak temperatures of all materials are well within their limiting value. Concept designs of HCCB blanket and its thermal hydraulic analysis will be presented in this paper.     

Analysis of Time-Dependent Tritium Breeding Capability of Water Cooled Ceramic Breeder Blanket for CFETR

Attaining tritium self-sufficiency is an important mission for the Chinese Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor(CFETR) operating on a Deuterium-Tritium(D-T) fuel cycle. It is necessary to study the tritium breeding ratio(TBR) and breeding tritium inventory variation with operation time so as to provide an accurate data for dynamic modeling and analysis of the tritium fuel cycle. A water cooled ceramic breeder(WCCB) blanket is one candidate of blanket concepts for the CFETR. Based on the detailed 3D neutronics model of CFETR with the WCCB blanket,the time-dependent TBR and tritium surplus were evaluated by a coupling calculation of the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code(MCNP) and the fusion activation code FISPACT-2007.The results indicated that the TBR and tritium surplus of the WCCB blanket were a function of operation time and fusion power due to the Li consumption in breeder and material activation.In addition, by comparison with the results calculated by using the 3D neutronics model and employing the transfer factor constant from 1D to 3D, it is noted that 1D analysis leads to an over-estimation for the time-dependent tritium breeding capability when fusion power is larger than 1000 MW.     

Neutronic investigation and activation calculation for CFETR HCCB blankets

The neutronic calculations and activation behavior of the proposed helium cooled ceramic breeder(HCCB) blanket were predicted for the Chinese Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor(CFETR) design model using the MCNP multi-particle transport code and its associated data library. The tritium self-sufficiency behavior of the HCCB blanket was assessed, addressing several important breeding-related arrangements inside the blankets. Two candidate first wall armor materials were considered to obtain a proper tritium breeding ratio(TBR). Presentations of other neutronic characteristics, including neutron flux, neutron-induced damages in terms of the accumulated dpa and helium production were also conducted. Activation, decay heat levels and contact dose rates of the components were calculated to estimate the neutron-induced radioactivity and personnel safety. The results indicate that neutron radiation is efficiently attenuated and slowed down by components placed between the plasma and toroidal field coil.The dominant nuclides and corresponding isotopes in the structural steel were discussed. A radioactivity comparison between pure beryllium and beryllium with specific impurities was also performed. After a millennium cooling time, the decay heat of all the concerned components and materials is less than 1?×?10-4 k W, and most associated in-vessel components qualify for recycling by remote handling. The results demonstrate that acceptable hands-on recycling and operation still require a further long waiting period to allow the activated products to decay.     

Neutronic Calculation Analysis for CN HCCB TBM-Set

Using the Monte Carlo transport code MCNP.neutronic calculation analysis for China helium cooled ceramic breeder test blanket module(CN HCCB TBM) and the associated shield block(together called TBM-set) has been carried out based on the latest design of HCCB TBM-set and C-lite model.Key nuclear responses of HCCB TBM-set.such as the neutron flux,tritium production rate,nuclear heating and radiation damage,have been obtained and discussed.These nuclear performance data can be used as the basic input data for other analyses of HCCB TBM-set,such as thermal-hydraulics,thermal-mechanics and safety analysis.     

Neutronic performance of new coolants in a fusion–fission (hybrid) reactor

Selection of coolant used in the fuel zone of a fusion–fission (hybrid) reactor affects the neutronic performance of the blanket much. Recently, two coolants namely, Flinabe and Li₂₀Sn₈₀ have been investigated to use in fusion reactors as tritium breeder and energy carrier due to their advantages of low melting point, low vapor pressure. In this study, neutronic performance of these coolants in a hybrid reactor using Canada Deuterium Uranium Reactor (CANDU) spent fuel was investigated for an operation period of 48 months. And also that of natural lithium and Flibe was also examined for comparison. Neutron transport calculations were conducted on a simple experimental hybrid blanket in a cylindrical geometry with the help of the SCALE4.3 system by solving the Boltzmann transport equation with the XSDRNPM code in 238 neutron groups and a S₈–P₃ approximation.     

CFETR氦冷陶瓷增殖包层中子学分析

为满足中国聚变工程实验堆(CFETR)包层的应用要求,本文提出氦冷陶瓷增殖(HCCB)包层方案。为验证HCCB包层设计方案的合理性与可行性,采用三维蒙特卡罗粒子输运程序MCNP,计算和分析了HCCB包层方案的氚增殖比、中子壁负载、中子通量密度、核热、辐照损伤等中子学特性。结果表明,HCCB包层方案满足氚自持要求,中子通量密度和核热分布合理,屏蔽性能良好,基本满足设计要求。     

Effect of Nuclear Data Libraries on Tritium Breeding in a (D–T) Fusion Driven Reactor

In design a Deuterium–Tritium (D–T) fusion driven hybrid reactor, neutronics and nuclear data libraries have an essential role for reliable neutronics calculations. Therefore, nuclear data libraries are very important to calculate of the neutronic parameters and selection of tritium breeder materials to be used in the blanket. In this study tritium breeding performances of candidate tritium breeding materials, namely, Li₂O, LiH, Li₂TiO₃, Li₂ZrO₃ and Li₄SiO₄ in a (D–T) driven fusion–fission (hybrid) reactor is investigated based on three dimensional (3-D) and one dimensional (1-D) neutronic calculations. 3-D and 1-D neutron transport calculations are performed with Monte Carlo transport code (MCNP 4C), SCALE 5 and ANISN nuclear data codes to determine the tritium breeding ratio (TBR) of the blanket. The effects of different nuclear data libraries on TBR are examined and TBR calculation results are comparatively investigated.     

Impact Analysis of Helium Cooled Solid Blanket Structures on the Tritium Breeding Performance in CFETR

Chinese Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) is a test tokamak reactor to bridge the gap between ITER and future fusion power plant. As its objectives are to demonstrate generation of fusion power and to realize tritium self-sufficiency, the tritium breeding ratio (TBR) is a key design parameter. In the blanket design and optimization, the structures such as the first wall (FW), cooling plate (CP), stiffening plate (SP), cap and some other design parameters in detailed 3-D model have significant impacts on the tritium breeding performance. Based on a helium cooled solid breeder blanket option for CFETR, the impact analysis of the helium cooled solid blanket structures on tritium breeding performance was performed in this paper. Firstly, the detailed 3D neutronics model was built by using of a CAD to Monte Carlo Geometry conversion tool McCad. Then based on the detailed 3D neutronics model, the impact analyses of the blanket structures on tritium breeding performance were carried out, which include the FW, CP, SP, cap and side wall. By the sensitivity study of the blanket structures on the TBR, it gave the TBR variation trend and references for the blanket design and optimization.