Design and validation of breeder unit of helium-cooled pebble bed blanket for demo fusion reactor

In the framework of European helium-cooled pebble bed (HCPB) blanket development, an HCPB breeder unit based on the design of pebble beds between flat cooling plates is proposed for a DEMO fusion reactor. The performances of the designed breeder units are validated by supporting analyses. By applying the thermal boundary conditions obtained by neutronics simulations for the DEMO reactor, results of finite element calculations of the breeder unit are analyzed in views of thermal-hydraulics and thermal stress to identify the adherence to maximum temperatures in structural and functional materials and the abidance by the stress criterion imposed by the structural material. The layout of the internal meandering channels in the cooling plates is optimized by using numerical methods. Finally, possible improvements of the new designed breeder unit are proposed.     

Development of the water cooled lithium lead blanket for DEMO

The water cooled lithium lead (WCLL) blanket, based on near-future technology requiring small extrapolation from present-day knowledge both on physical and technological aspect, is one of the breeding blanket concepts considered as possible candidates for the EU DEMOnstration power plant.In 2012, the EFDA agency issued new specifications for DEMO: this paper describes the work performed to adapt the WCLL blanket design to those specifications.Relatively small modules with straight surfaces are attached to a common Back Supporting Structure housing feeding pipes. Each module features reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steel as structural material, liquid Lithium-Lead as breeder, neutron multiplier and carrier. Water at typical Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) conditions is chosen as coolant.A preliminary design of the equatorial outboard module has been achieved. Finite elements analyses have been carried out in order to assess the module thermal behavior. Two First Wall (FW) concepts have been proposed, one favoring the thermal efficiency, the other favoring the manufacturability. The Breeding Zone has been designed with C-shaped Double-Walled Tubes in order to minimize the Water/Pb-15.7Li interaction likelihood.The priorities for further development of the WCLL blanket concept are identified in the paper.     

Status of ITER blanket attachment design and related R&D

Main function of the ITER blanket system [1], [2], [3] is to shield the vacuum vessel (VV) from nuclear radiation and thermal energy coming from the plasma. Blanket system consists of discrete blanket modules (BM). Each BM is composed of a first wall panel and a shield block (SB). The shield block is attached to the VV by means of four flexible supports and three or four shear keys, through key pads. All listed supports do have parts with ceramic electro-insulating coatings necessary to exclude the largest loops of eddy currents and restrict EM loads. Electrical connection of each SB to the VV is through two elastic electrical straps. Cooling water is supplied to each BM by one coaxial water connector. This paper summarizes the recent evolution of the blanket attachment system toward design solutions compatible with design loads and numbers of load cycles, and providing sufficient reliability and durability. This evolution was done in a frame of pre-defined external interfaces. The ongoing supporting R&D is also briefly described.     

Status of Indian LLCB TBM program and R&D activities

The Indian LLCB TBM, currently under development, will be tested from the first phase of ITER operation (H–H phase) in one-half of the ITER port no-2. The present LLCB TBM design has been optimized based on the neutronic as well as thermal hydraulic analysis results. LLCB TBM R&D activities are primarily focused on (i) development of technologies related to various process systems such as Helium, Pb–Li liquid metal and tritium, (ii) development and qualification of blanket materials viz., structural material (IN-RAFMS), tritium breeding materials (Pb–Li, and Li₂TiO₃), (iii) development and qualification of fabrication technologies for TBM system. The present status of LLCB TBM design activities as well as the progress made in major R&D areas is presented in this paper.     

Overview of EU DEMO design and R&D activities

One important objective of the EU fusion roadmap Horizon 2020 is to lay the foundation of a Demonstration Fusion Power Reactor (DEMO) to follow ITER, with the capability of generating several 100 MW of net electricity to the grid and operating with a closed fuel-cycle by 2050. This is currently viewed by many of the nations engaged in the construction of ITER as the remaining crucial step towards the exploitation of fusion power. This paper outlines the DEMO design and R&D approach that is being adopted in Europe and presents some of the preliminary design options that are under evaluation as well as the most urgent R&D work that is expected to be launched in the near-future. The R&D on materials for a near-term DEMO is discussed in detail elsewhere.     

Analysis of electromagnetic loads on EU-DEMO inboard and outboard blanket vertical segments

An analysis of the EM loads acting on a DEMO reactor configuration based on Multi Module Segment (MMS) design is presented in this work as part of the ongoing EU DEMO studies. Lorentz's forces and moments, both on the single module as well as on the complete blanket segment, are calculated for both the European HCPB and HCLL concepts. The system is analyzed considering a major central disruption scenario with a linear current quench of 42 ms using the ANSYS finite element software. The results are also compared to linear analyses to underline the effect of the non-linearity of the ferromagnetic materials.     

R&D activities of the liquid breeder blanket in Korea

A liquid breeder blanket has been developed in parallel with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Test Blanket Module (TBM) program in Korea. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed the common fields of a solid TBM such as design tools, structural material, fabrication methods, and He cooling technology to support this concept for the ITER. Also, other fields such as a liquid breeder technology and tritium extraction have been developed from the designed liquid TBM. For design tools, system codes for safety analysis such as Multi-dimensional Analysis of Reactor Safety (MARS) and GAs Multi-component Mixture Analysis (GAMMA) were developed for He coolant and liquid breeder. For the fabrication methods, Ferritic Martensitic Steel (FMS) to FMS and Be to FMS joinings with a Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) were developed and verified with a high heat flux test of up to 0.5–1.0 MW/m². Moreover, three mockups were successfully fabricated and a 10-channel prototype is being fabricated to make a rectangular channel FW. For the integrity of the joining, two high heat flux test facilities were constructed, and one using an electron beam has been constructed. With the 6 MPa nitrogen loop, a basic heat transfer experiment for code validation was performed. From the verification of the components such as preheater and circulator, a 9 MPa He loop was constructed, and it supplies high temperature (500 °C) and pressure (8 MPa) He to the high heat flux test facility. For an electromagnetic (EM) pump development for circulating the liquid breeder, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) experiment, and flow corrosion test, a PbLi breeder loop was constructed. From the performance test, the EM pump and magnet show their capability, and flow and static corrosion tests including oxide coating for corrosion protection were performed. For tritium extraction from the liquid breeder, a gas–liquid contact method was adopted and a tritium extraction chamber was constructed. For measurement of the tritium amount in the liquid breeder, permeation sensors have been developed.     

Normal operation and maintenance safety lessons from the ITER US PbLi test blanket module program for a US FNSF and DEMO

A leading power reactor breeding blanket candidate for a fusion demonstration power plant (DEMO) being pursued by the US Fusion Community is the Dual Coolant Lead Lithium (DCLL) concept. The safety hazards associated with the DCLL concept as a reactor blanket have been examined in several US design studies. These studies identify the largest radiological hazards as those associated with the dust generation by plasma erosion of plasma blanket module first walls, oxidation of blanket structures at high temperature in air or steam, inventories of tritium bred in or permeating through the ferritic steel structures of the blanket module and blanket support systems, and the ²¹⁰Po and ²⁰³Hg produced in the PbLi breeder/coolant. What these studies lack is the scrutiny associated with a licensing review of the DCLL concept. An insight into this process was gained during the US participation in the ITER Test Blanket Module (TBM) Program. In this paper we discuss the lessons learned during this activity and make safety proposals for the design of a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) or a DEMO that employs a lead lithium breeding blanket.     

Dynamic thermal-hydraulic modelling of the EU DEMO HCPB breeding blanket cooling loops

A global, system-level thermal-hydraulic model of the EU DEMO tokamak fusion reactor is currently under development and implementation in a suitable software at Politecnico di Torino, including the relevant heat transfer and fluid dynamics phenomena, which affect the performance of the different cooling circuits and components and their integration in a consistent design. The model is based on an object-oriented approach using the Modelica language, which easily allows to preserve the high modularity required at this stage of the design. The first module of the global model will simulate the blanket cooling system and will be able to investigate different coolant options and different cooling schemes, to be adapted to the different blanket systems currently under development in the Breeding Blanket (BB) project. The paper presents the Helium-Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) module of the EU DEMO blanket cooling loops system model. The model is used to compare different schemes for the cooling of the different components of the HCPB BB, and to suggest improvements aimed at optimizing the pumping power required by the cooling system. The model is then used to analyse a pulsed scenario, characteristic of the EU DEMO operation.     

Parametric neutronic analysis of HCLL blanket for DEMO fusion reactor utilizing vacuum vessel ITER FDR design

Three-dimensional parametric neutronics calculations using the Monte Carlo code MCNP-4C have been performed for a DEMO-type reactor based on the Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead (HCLL) blanket. The aim of the analysis was to minimize the radial blanket thickness, while ensuring tritium self-sufficiency and to assess the shielding performance of the reactor in terms of the radiation loads to the super-conducting toroidal field (TF) coils. It was found that tritium self-sufficiency can be achieved with a breeder zone thickness reduced to no more than 55 cm at a ⁶Li enrichment of 90%. Assuming a ⁶Li enrichment of 60%, a breeder zone thickness of 60 cm is required to achieve the target TBR of 1.10 which is assumed to be sufficient to cover potential tritium losses and uncertainties. With regard to the shielding performance it was found that the design limits for the radiation loads to the TF-coil can be met with radial blanket thicknesses of 75 cm, 60 cm and 55 cm utilizing a two-component shield of Eurofer steel and tungsten carbide between the breeder zone and the vacuum vessel. The blanket variants with larger radial breeder zone show better shielding performances due to the reduced Eurofer shielding material acting as gamma radiation emitter in between the breeder zone and the vacuum vessel. In particular the radiation dose absorbed in the Epoxy insulator was shown to be the most critical quantity in this regard.     

Status of ceramic breeder pebble bed thermo-mechanics R&D and impact on breeder material mechanical strength

Among the international fusion solid breeder blanket community, there exists steady progress on the experimental, phenomenological, and numerical characterizations of the pebble bed effective thermo physical and mechanical properties, and of thermomechanic state of the bed under prototypical operating conditions. This paper summarizes recent achievements in pebble bed thermomechanics that were carried out by members of the IEA Fusion Nuclear Technology Subtask I Solid Breeding Blanket. A major goal is on developing predictive capability while identifying a pre-conditioned equilibrium stress state that would warrant pebble bed integrity during operations. The paper reviews and synthesizes existing computational modeling approaches for pebble bed thermomechanics prediction, and differentiating points of convergence/divergence among existing approaches. The progress toward modeling benchmark is also discussed. These advancements have led to a framework to help navigate future research.     

Consistent integration in preparing the helium cooled lithium lead DEMO-2007 reactor

Within the European fusion programme, the helium cooled lithium lead (HCLL) breeding blanket is one of the concepts to be pursued as possible candidates for the European DEMO reactor. A HCLL-DEMO reactor has been assessed in 2007, a near term fusion power plant based on limited technologies and plasma extrapolation from ITER.In this frame, this paper presents the results of the activities carried out by CEA teams, including both in vessel and ex vessel components. The high interdependency between the several technological components is highlighted. A careful integrated assessment to further account for the integration of all the components of the machine towards a final robust and consistent version of HCLL-DEMO is also recommended as future activity.     

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.     

Japanese contribution to the DEMO-R&D program under the Broader Approach activities

Several technical R&D activities mainly related to the blanket materials are newly launched as a part of the Broader Approach (BA) activities, which was initiated by the EU and Japan. According to the common interests for these parties in DEMO, R&Ds on reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels as structural material, SiC_f/SiC composites as a flow channel insert material and/or alternative structural material, advanced tritium breeders and neutron multipliers, and tritium technology are carried out through the BA DEMO R&D program, in order to establish the technical bases on the blanket materials and the tritium technology required for DEMO design. This paper describes overall schedule of those R&D activities and recent progress in Japan carried out by JAEA as the domestic implementing agency on BA, collaborating with Japanese universities and other research institutes.     

Overview of the design and R&D of the ITER blanket system

The ITER blanket design has substantially evolved since the ITER design review of 2007. Two major incentives for the design changes have been the need to account for large plasma heat fluxes to the First Wall (FW) and the need for acceptable maintenance of FW panels. In parallel to the design effort, a focused R&D program is being carried out including manufacturing and testing of semi-prototypes for the FW panels, and of full-scale prototypes for the shield blocks. This paper summarizes the status of the ITER blanket system design including the accommodation of interfaces, and describes some of the key R&D activities in support of the design with the goal of starting procurement in the first half of 2013.     

Design and R&D progress of Korean HCCR TBM

Korea plans to test a Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) Test Blanket Module (TBM) in ITER. The HCCR TBM adopts a four sub-module concept considering the fabricability and the transfer of irradiated TBM for post irradiation examination. Each sub-module has seven-layer breeding zone, including three neutron multiplier layers packed with beryllium pebbles, three lithium ceramic pebble bed packed tritium breeder layers, and a reflector layer packed with graphite pebbles. Based on this configuration, neutronic and electromagnetic calculations were performed and their results were applied for the conceptual design of HCCR TBM that considers manufacturing feasibility. Also, a design and safety analysis of HCCR Test Blanket System (TBS) was performed using integrated design tools modifying nuclear system codes for helium coolant and tritium behavior evaluation. The Advanced Reduced Activation Alloy (ARAA) is being developed as a structural material. A total of 73 candidate ARAA alloys were designed and their out-of-pile performance was evaluated. The graphite pebbles as the neutron reflector were fabricated by using mechanical machining and grounding method with the surface coated with SiC. The hydrogen permeation characteristics of structural materials were evaluated using the Hydrogen PERmeation (HYPER) facility. The recent design and R&D progress on these areas are addressed in this paper.     

Preliminary performance analysis and optimization based on 1D neutronics model for Indian DEMO HCCB blanket

India, under its breeding blanket R&D program for DEMO, is focusing on the development of two tritium breeding blanket concepts; namely the lead-lithium-cooled ceramic breeder and the helium-cooled ceramic breeder (HCCB). The study presented in this paper focuses on the neutronic design analysis and optimization from the tritium breeding perspective of the HCCB blanket. The Indian concept has an edge-on configuration and is one of the variants of the helium-cooled solid breeder blanket concepts proposed by several partner countries in ITER. The Indian HCCB blanket having lithium titanate (Li₂TiO₃) as the tritium breeder and beryllium (Be) as the neutron multiplier with reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steel structure aims at utilizing the low-energy neutrons at the rear part of the blanket. The aim of the optimization study is to minimize the radial blanket thickness while ensuring tritium self-sufficiency and provide data for further neutronic design and thermal-hydraulic layout of the HCCB blanket. It is found that inboard and outboard blanket thicknesses of 40 cm and 60 cm, respectively, can give a tritium breeding ratio (TBR) >1.3, with 60% ⁶Li enrichment, which is assumed to be sufficient to cover potential tritium losses and associated uncertainties. The results also demonstrated that the Be packing fraction (PF) has a more profound impact on the TBR as compared to 6Li enrichment and the PF of Li₂TiO₃.     

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.     

Design of a water cooled monoblock divertor for DEMO using Eurofer as structural material

The performed investigation focus on a monoblock type design for a water cooled DEMO divertor using Eurofer as structural material. In 2013, a study case of such a concept was presented. It was shown that basic concepts using Eurofer as structural material are limited to an incident heat flux of 8 MW m⁻². Since, the EFDA agency issued new specifications. In this study, the conceptual design is reassessed with regard to specifications. Then, steady state thermal analyses and thermo-mechanical elastic analyses have been performed to define an upgrade of the geometry taking into account new specifications, design criteria and the maximum heat flux requirement of 10 MW m⁻². An analysis of the influence of each adjustable geometrical parameter on thermo-mechanical design criteria was performed. As a consequence, geometrical parameters were set in order to fit to materials requirements. For defined hydraulic conditions taken in the most favourable configuration, the limit of this design is estimated to an incident heat flux of 10 MW m⁻². Margin to critical heat flux and rules against progressive deformation/ratcheting in structural material limit the design.     

Activation analysis and waste management of China ITER helium cooled solid breeder test blanket module

Activation characteristics have been assessed for the ITER China helium cooled solid breeder (CH-HCSB) 3 × 6 test blanket module (TBM). Taking a representative irradiation scenario, the activation calculations were performed by FISPACT code. Neutron fluxes distributions in the TBM were provided by a preceding MCNP calculation. These fluxes were passed to FISPACT for the activation calculation. The main activation parameters of the HCSB-TBM were calculated and discussed, such as activity, afterheat and contact dose rate. Meanwhile, the dominant radioactivity nuclides and reaction channel pathways have been identified. According to the Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP) waste management strategy, the activated materials can be re-used following the remote handling recycling options. The results will provide useful indications for further optimization design and waste management of the TBM.