Abstract: | This paper is an assessment of three possible thermal-hydraulic high heat flux heat removal techniques which will result in adequate heat removal from fusion components with minimum penalty. The heat removal alternatives are: (1) subcooled flow boiling (SFB) with water, (2) high velocity helium gas convection (HGC), and (3) liquid metal (LM) heat transfer in the presence of a transverse magnetic field (TM). Advantages and disadvantages of each technique are delineated. Each heat removal technique is examined for a case study applicable to near-term fusion components such as limiters and divertors.Comparisons are made for the selected case study involving heat removal from a 1.5 m long, 1.0 cm diameter (inside) coolant channel which is subjected to a unifirm steady-state heat flux of 0.5 kW/cm2. The results show that SFB has the greatest heat removal capability, with the lowest coolant channel wall temperature and pumping power, followed by HGC and LMTM. Critical research and development needs for each technique are also summarized. |