Speaker
Milan Zmitko
(ITER)
Description
Europe is developing two reference tritium Breeder Blankets concepts that will be tested in ITER under the form of Test Blanket Modules (TBMs): i) Helium-Cooled Lithium-Lead (HCLL) which uses liquid Pb-16Li as both breeder and neutron multiplier, ii) Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) with lithiated ceramic pebbles as breeder and beryllium pebbles as neutron multiplier. Both concepts are using the EUROFER97 steel as a structural material and pressurized Helium technology for heat extraction (8 MPa, 300-500ºC).
First part of the paper reviews the progress achieved in the conceptual design development of the both concepts, namely, the HCLL and HCPB TBM-sets comprising of TBMs itself, the associated shield and mechanical attachment providing the required structural connection between the TBM and shield.
Second part of the paper overviews activities focused on qualification of EUROFER97 structural material, introduced under a probationary phase in the nuclear components design and construction code RCC-MRx, and identification/analyses of gaps in the respective material database to be filled in. Additionally the available design rules in the code are reviewed to verify their applicability to the specificities of EUROFER97 steel and to TBM design and fabrication.
Third part of the paper overviews the current development of fabrication technologies and procedures applied for manufacturing of TBM box assembly and TBM sub-components, like, HCLL and HCPB cooling plates, stiffening plates, and first wall and side caps. The used technologies are based on fusion and diffusion welding techniques taking into account specificities of EUROFER-97 steel.
Fourth part of the paper presents on-going activities towards qualification of functional materials for TBM applications, namely, Li ceramic breeder, beryllium multiplier and Pb-16Li eutectic alloy. Preparation of the functional materials’ Material Assessment Reports is discussed. In particular, results obtained in post-irradiation examination of ceramic breeder and Be pebbles irradiated at HICU and HIDOBE campaigns are presented.
Co-authors
Francisco Jose Calvo Plaza
(IDOM, Avda. Monasterio de El Escorial 4, 28049 Madrid, Spain)
Giacomo Aiello
(DEN, DM2S, SEMT, CEA-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France)
Heiko Neuberger
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Jarir Aktaa
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Joelle Vallory
(ITER, Fusion for Energy (F4E), Barcelona, Spain)
Joerg Rey
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Laurence Cogneau
(DRT, CEA, 38000 Grenoble, France)
Laurent Forest
(DEN, DM2S, SEMT, CEA-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France)
Lida Magielsen
(NRG Nuclear Research and consultancy Group, P.O Box 25, 1755ZG Petten, Netherlands)
Milan Zmitko
(ITER, Fusion for Energy (F4E), Barcelona, Spain)
Noel Thomas
(ATMOSTAT, F-94815 Villejuif, France)
Pavel Vladimirov
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Regina Knitter
(Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Postfach 3640, Karlsruhe, Germany)
Yann Carin
(ITER, Fusion for Energy (F4E), Barcelona, Spain)
Yves Poitevin
(ITER, Fusion for Energy (F4E), Barcelona, Spain)
