The European contribution to the development of the ITER NB injector

This paper reviews the on-going design, R&D and procurement activities, mostly conducted within the ITER framework, on-going in Europe under the co-ordination of Fusion for Energy (F4E), in co-operation with the European Fusion Associations and aimed at the establishment of the ITER Heating Neutral Beam (HNB) system.     

Gas flow and related beam losses in the ITER neutral beam injector

The gas flow in the ITER neutral beam injectors has been studied using a 3D Monte Carlo code to define a number of key parameters affecting the design and operation of the injector. This paper presents the results of calculations of the gas density in the two accelerator concepts presently considered as options for the ITER injectors, and the resultant stripping losses of the negative ions during their acceleration to 1 MeV. The sensitivity of the model to various parameters has been studied, including the gas temperature in the ion source and the subsequent accommodation by collisions with the accelerator structure, and the degree of dissociation of the D₂ or H₂ in the ion source, and subsequent recombination during collisions with the accelerator structure. Additionally the sensitivity of the losses to details of the beam source design and operating parameters are examined for both accelerator concepts.     

ITER双功能液态锂铅实验包层系统故障模式影响分析

实验包层模块允许放置在ITER中实验的前提是其对ITER的安全以及对工作人员和环境不构成显著影响。ITER要求各参与方的实验包层模块在实验前必须提交安全分析报告,进而获取安全许可证。在中国双功能锂铅实验包层模块(DFLL-TBM)设计基础上,采用了故障模式影响分析(FMEA)方法对DFLL-TBM进行了安全评估与分析,得到所有可能导致严重后果的假设始发事件,验证了确定论安全分析所选择的三个参考事件可以包络所有的假设始发事件。     

Electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis of the ITER edge localized mode coil with flexible supports

In a fusion reactor, the edge localized mode(ELM) coil has a mitigating effect on the ELMs of the plasma. The coil is placed close to the plasma between the vacuum vessel and the blanket to reduce its design power and improve its mitigating ability. The coil works in a high-temperature,high-nuclear-heat and high-magnetic-field environment. Due to the existence of outer superconducting coils, the coil is subjected to an alternating electromagnetic force induced by its own alternating current and the outer magnetic field. The design goal for the ELM coil is to maintain its structural integrity in the multi-physical field. Taking as an example the middle ELM coil(with flexible supports) of ITER(the International Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor), an electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis is carried out using ANSYS. The results show that the flexible supports help the three-layer casing meet the static and fatigue design requirements. The structural design of the middle ELM coil is reasonable and feasible. The work described in this paper provides the theoretical basis and method for ELM coil design.     

ITER屏蔽包层活化分析

作为国际热核聚变实验堆(ITER)的重要部件之一,屏蔽包层承受高强度聚变中子辐照,需要定期更换和维修。当活化的屏蔽包层从ITER托卡马克装置移到热室时,可能会给工作人员造成严重的辐射照射,是ITER大厅和热室屏蔽设计的重要辐射源。文中基于ITER最新中子学分析基准模型和"二步法"停堆剂量计算方法,使用超级蒙特卡罗核计算仿真软件系统SuperMC针对15号屏蔽包层建立精细的中子学模型,并计算分析包层的活化情况及最严重情况下的周围辐射剂量率,并初步应用于ITER赤道窗口室的屏蔽分析。计算结果显示,单个包层周围最大剂量率为350 Sv/hr,当传送小车停留在赤道窗口室内时,窗口室屏蔽门外剂量率高于10 mSv/hr,不足以满足设计要求。     

ITER上窗口屏蔽中子学分析研究

利用CAD/MCNP自动建模程序MCAM建立ITER新上窗口中子学计算模型,使用中子/光子耦合输运程序MCNP/4CI、AEA聚变核数据库FENDL1.0和集成上窗口模型的ITER基本中子学模型计算并分析上窗口新的工程设计的屏蔽能力以检验设计的合理性。结果表明,与以前的上窗口设计相比,新设计的上窗口的周围剂量控制点的快中子注量率、停堆剂量率以及线圈核热等都增大了好几倍,建议进一步改进上窗口设计。     

Design failure mode and effect analysis for Korean fusion DEMO plant

The construction of Korean Fusion DEMO Plant (KFDP) for a demonstration of the plasma analysis and engineering feasibilities is planned in 2030s based on the Korean fusion technology roadmap. The radiation safety should be assured for nuclear facilities, so that, the KFDP is required to research for the regulatory requirements and industrial codes and standards. The final design guidance of the engineered safety features should be served in future. As the first step for this research, the failure modes and effects analysis in a design stage was performed. This leads to find the list of potential hazard elements and to obtain the list of initiating events for the future probabilistic risk assessment. The hazard elements expected to seriously threaten the integrity of the KFDP were investigated and determined to quantify the effect of the initiating events in the effect analysis: (1) a total loss of active cooling water to occur during the burn with decay heat calculation and (2) coolant ingress from cooling circuits into the vacuum vessel, cryostat and containment building. For those initiating events, the quantitative simulations using transient mass and energy calculation and computational fluid dynamics were performed.     

Feasibility study of the cut and weld operations by RH on the cooling pipes of ITER NB components

The maintenance operations of ITER NB components inside the vessel - Beam Line Components (BLC's) involve the removal of the faulty component, its transport to the hot cell as well as the reverse operations of transport of the repaired/new component and its reinstallation inside the vessel. Prior to the removal of the BLC's the cooling pipes must be detached from the component following a procedure that applies to the cutting of the pipes and subsequent welding when the component is re-installed. The purpose of this study, conducted in the framework of EFDA, is to demonstrate the feasibility of the cut and weld operations on the water pipes of the BLC's using fully remote handling techniques. Viable technologies for the cut and weld operations have been identified within the study; in particular the following aspects will be presented in the paper:

• Different strategies can be pursued in the detachment of the components depending on the number of cut and weld operations to be performed on the pipes. The selected strategy will impact on the procedure to be followed likewise on important aspects as the requirements of the flexible joints assembled on the pipes.

• The existing cutting techniques have been examined in the light of the remotely performed pipe cutting at the NB cell. Modifications of commercial tools have been proposed in order to adapt them to the BLC's pipes requirements. The debris produced during the cutting process must be controlled and collected, therefore a cleaning system has been integrated in the adapted cutting tool referred above.

• The existing welding techniques have been also examined and compared based on different criteria such as complexity, reliability, alignment tolerances, etc. TIG welding is the preferred technique as it stands out for its superior performance. The commercial tools identified need to be adapted to the NB environment.

• The alignment of the pipes is a critical issue concerning the remote welding. A proper alignment system has been proposed taking into account the pre-selected welding technique.

RAMI analysis for ITER fuel cycle system

ITER is the first fusion device designed to continuously process DT (Deuterium–Tritium) plasma exhaust and supply recycled fuel in a closed loop, using a FCS (Fuel Cycle System) which includes tritium plant, vacuum system, and fuelling and wall conditioning systems. In addition, as an important step towards the commercially viable power plant, ITER has an ambitious inherent availability target of 60% for plasma production. To be able to achieve this objective, the potential technical risk which may impact the machine operation was assessed by means of RAMI (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Inspectability).Firstly, a functional breakdown of the FCS was performed and critical components associated with its basic functions were identified. Secondly, FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis) was performed to evaluate potential causes of failures and their consequences for the plasma operation. The analysis highlighted two critical functions in the tritium plant, namely storage and distribution performed by SDS (Storage and Distribution System) and isotopic separation performed by ISS (Isotope Separation System). Since the system involves various active components, inherent availability of the system has been finally estimated to be around 74% in DT phase.     

Mechanical analysis of the PF1 feeder for ITER

The ITER experimental device contains very powerful superconducting magnets operated at cryogenic temperatures to generate and control the deuterium–tritium plasma for thermo-nuclear fusion. The function of the feeders is to convey the cryogenic supply and electrical power through the warm-cold barrier to ITER magnets. Due to the complexity of the structure and working conditions, a global mechanical analysis is required to have simulation information to check the structural reliability of the design. Electromagnetic force analysis of PF1 feeder for further mechanical analysis was calculated under the worst scenarios with the maximum working current in every coil. Mechanical analysis model was built using the finite element software ANSYS. The structural performance of the PF1 feeder was analyzed. The numerical simulation results show that the design of the PF1 feeder is feasible.     

Thermal-structural analysis for ITER in-wall shielding block

In order to verify the design strength of the in-wall shielding (IWS) blocks of the ITER, thermal-structural analyses of one IWS block under vacuum vessel (VV) baking and plasma operation conditions have been respectively performed with finite element (FE) method. Among the complicated operation scenarios of the ITER, two critical types of combined loads required by the load specification of IWS were applied on the shielding block. The stress of the block is judged by American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) criterion. Results show that the structure of this block has enough safety margin, and it also supplies detailed information of the stress distribution in concerned region under certain loads.     

Gamma-ray dose analysis for ITER JA WCCB-TBM

To evaluate the nuclear properties of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) JA Water-Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket Module (WCCB-TBM) and to ensure its design conforms to nuclear licensing regulations, nuclear analyses have been performed for the WCCB-TBM's components, including its frame, shield, flange, port extension, pipe forest, bio-shield and Ancillary Equipment Unit (AEU). Utilising Monte Carlo code MCNP5.14, activation code ACT-4 and the Fusion Evaluated Nuclear Data Library FENDL-2.1, this paper focusses on the shutdown dose rate calculation for the WCCB-TBM. Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNP) geometry input data for the TBM are created from computer-aided design (CAD) data using the CAD/MCNP automatic conversion code GEOMIT, and other geometry input data are created manually. The ‘Direct 1-Step Monte Carlo’ method is adopted for the decay gamma-ray dose rate calculation. Behind the bio-shield, the effective dose rates 1 day after shutdown are about 0.2 μSv h⁻¹, which are much lower than 10 μSv h⁻¹, the upper limit for human access. Behind the flange, the effective dose rates 10⁶ s after shutdown are 50–80 μSv h⁻¹, which are lower than 100 μSv h⁻¹, the upper limit for human hands-on access for workers performing maintenance.     

RAMI analysis of the ITER CIS

ITER is the first worldwide international project aiming to design a device that proves the physics and technological basis for fusion power plants to produce nuclear fusion energy. In the project, the RAMI approach (reliability, availability, maintainability and inspectability) has been adopted for technical risk control to guide the design of components in preparation for operation and maintenance. RAMI analysis of the ITER central interlock system (CIS), which shall provide investment protection for the ITER systems was performed on the conceptual design. A functional breakdown was prepared in a bottom-up approach, resulting in the system being divided into 5 main functions and 7 sub-functions which are described using the IDEFØ method. Reliability block diagrams (RBDs) were prepared to estimate the reliability and availability of each function under stipulated operating conditions. Initial and expected scenarios were analyzed to define risk-mitigation actions. The inherent availability of the ITER CIS expected after implementation of mitigating actions was calculated to be 99.86% over 2 years, which is the typical interval of the scheduled maintenance cycles. A failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) was performed to initiate risk mitigation action. Criticality matrices highlight the risks of the different failure modes with regard to the probability of their occurrence and impact on operations. It was assessed that the availability of the ITER CIS, with appropriate mitigating actions applied, meets the project availability requirement for the system.     

ITER双功能液态锂铅实验包层系统PIE-PIT分析

ITER要求各参与国的实验包层模块在实验前必须提交安全分析报告(含确定论分析和概率论分析),进而获取安全许可证.结合中国双功能锂铅实验包层模块的具体特点,采用了假设始发事件-潜在影响表(PIE-PIT)分析方法对DFLL-TBM进行了安全评估与分析,已验证确定论安全分析所选择的三个参考事件是否可包络PIE-PIT分析得到的严重事故序列.     

Structural analysis and optimization for ITER upper ELM coil

ITER ELM coils are used to mitigate or suppress Edge Localized Modes (ELM), which are located between the vacuum vessel (VV) and shielding blanket modules and subject to high radiation levels, high temperature and high magnetic field. These coils shall have high heat transfer performance to avoid high thermal stress, sufficient strength and excellent fatigue to transport and bear the alternating electromagnetic force due to the combination of the high magnetic field and the AC current in the coil. Therefore these coils should be designed and analyzed to confirm the temperature distribution, strength and fatigue performance in the case of conservative assumption. To verify the design structural feasibility of the upper ELM coil under EM and thermal loads, thermal, static and fatigue structural analysis have been performed in detail using ANSYS. In addition, design optimization has been done to enhance the structural performance of the upper ELM coil.     

Electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis of the ITER edge localized mode coil with fiexible supports

In a fusion reactor, the edge localized mode (ELM) coil has a mitigating effect on the ELMs of the plasma. The coil is placed close to the plasma between the vacuum vessel and the blanket to reduce its design power and improve its mitigating ability. The coil works in a high-temperature, high-nuclear-heat and high-magnetic-field environment. Due to the existence of outer superconducting coils, the coil is subjected to an alternating electromagnetic force induced by its own alternating current and the outer magnetic field. The design goal for the ELM coil is to maintain its structural integrity in the multi-physical field. Taking as an example the middle ELM coil (with flexible supports) of ITER (the International Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor),an electromagnetic–thermal–structural coupling analysis is carried out using ANSYS. The results show that the flexible supports help the three-layer casing meet the static and fatigue design requirements. The structural design of the middle ELM coil is reasonable and feasible. The work described in this paper provides the theoretical basis and method for ELM coil design.     

Thermo-mechanical analysis of the thermal shield for ITER magnet feeder

The thermal shield for ITER magnet feeder plays the role of preventing thermal radiation from the warm components to the cool superconductor and supercritical helium system. Heat loads were calculated for thermal analysis, then finite element model was established by ANSYS code. Thermal analysis was performed in order to check the temperature distribution and pressure drop of the thermal shield under normal operation state. Different materials (steel or aluminum) for the thermal shield were also checked. Thermal stress analysis was performed based on the results of thermal analyses. Compared analysis results with design criteria, it is demonstrated that the results of the simulation are within allowable design requirements and the design scheme can be applied to the detailed design.     

Three-dimensional dual-flow fields analysis of the DFLL TBM for ITER

This paper concerns the design calculations and performance evaluation of the Dual Function Lithium Lead Test Blanket Module (DFLL TBM) for ITER. Detailed three-dimensional dual-flow field calculations of helium gas and lithium lead (LiPb) have been performed for the DFLL TBM. The commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT based finite volume method Navier–Stokes solver capable of solving conjugate flow and heat transfer between dual-flow field and structure is used. The CFD calculations are conducted directly in the CAD model using the CATIA code that allows preserving the geometrical details. The computational results show that the current TBM design is reasonable under the ITER normal condition. The detailed dual-flow fields, which include temperature, velocity, pressure and heat transfer of liquid LiPb and helium gas, are presented to optimize and improve the design of DFLL TBM system for ITER, and to supply more robust database and make a significant joint contribution to the future TBM testing in EAST and ITER.