Safety studies on Korean fusion DEMO plant using integrated safety assessment methodology

The purpose of this paper is to suggest methodology that can investigate safety issues and provides a case study for Korean fusion DEMO plant (K-DEMO) as a part of R&D program through the National Fusion Research Institute of Korea. Even though nuclear regulation and licensing framework is well setup due to the operating and design experience of Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) since 1970s, the regulatory authority of South Korea has concerns on the challenge of facing new nuclear facilities including K-DEMO due to the differences in systems, materials, and inherent safety feature from conventional PWRs. Even though the follow-up of the ITER license process facilitates to deal with significant safety issues of fusion facilities, a licensee as well as a licenser should identify the gaps between ITER and DEMO in terms of safety issues. First we reviewed the methods of conducting safety analysis for unprecedented nuclear facilities such as Generation IV reactors, particularly very high temperature reactor (VHTR), which is called as integrated safety assessment methodology (ISAM). Second, the analysis for the conceptual design of K-DEMO on the basis of ISAM was conducted. The ISAM consists of five analytical tools to develop the safety requirements from licensee's viewpoint in interactive manner: qualitative safety features review (QSR), phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT), objective provision tree (OPT), probabilistic safety assessment (PSA), and deterministic and phenomenological analysis (DPA). Considering the design phase of K-DEMO, the current study focused on the PIRT process with the fusion safety advisory group in South Korea.     

Evolution of the ITER program and prospect for the next-step fusion DEMO reactors: status of the fusion energy R&D as ultimate source of energy

An international joint project of fusion experimental reactor, the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), is reviewed in view of long-range fusion energy research and development (R&D). Its purpose, goal, evolution, and the present construction status are briefly reviewed. While the ITER is a core machine in the present stage, generation of electricity is a role of the next-step fusion demonstration power plant “DEMO.” The status of designs and technology R&D for DEMO are also reviewed.     

Requirements for helium cooled pebble bed blanket and R&D activities

This work aims to give an outline of the design requirements of the helium cooled pebble bed (HCPB) blanket and its associated R&D activities. In DEMO fusion reactor the plasma facing components have to fulfill several requirements dictated by safety and process sustainability criteria. In particular the blanket of a fusion reactor shall transfer the heat load coming from the plasma to the cooling system and also provide tritium breeding for the fuel cycle of the machine. KIT has been investigating and developed a helium-cooled blanket for more than three decades: the concept is based on the adoption of separated small lithium orthosilicate (tritium breeder) and beryllium (neutron multiplier) pebble beds, i.e. the HCPB blanket. One of the test blanket modules of ITER will be a HCPB type, aiming to demonstrate the soundness of the concept for the exploitation in future fusion power plants. A discussion is reported also on the development of the design criteria for the blanket to meet the requirements, such as tritium environmental release, also with reference to the TBM.The selection of materials and components to be used in a unique environment as the Tokamak of a fusion reactor requires dedicated several R&D activities. For instance, the performance of the coolant and the tritium self-sufficiency are key elements for the realization of the HCPB concept. Experimental campaigns have been conducted to select the materials to be used inside the solid breeder blanket and R&D activities have been carried out to support the design. The paper discusses also the program of future developments for the realization of the HCPB concept, also focusing to the specific campaigns necessary to qualify the TBM for its implementation in the ITER machine.     

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.     

Efficiency and availability driven R&D issues for DEMO

DEMO is the main step foreseen after ITER to demonstrate the technological and commercial viability of a fusion power plant. DEMO R&D requirements are usually identified on the basis of the functions expected from each individual system. An approach based on the analysis of overall plant functional requirements sheds new light on R&D needs. The analysis presented here focuses on two overall functional requirements, efficiency and availability. The results of this analysis are presented here putting emphasis on systems not sufficiently considered up to now, e.g. the heating and current drive systems, while more commonly addressed systems such as tritium breeding blankets are not discussed in detail. It is also concluded that an overall functional analysis should be adopted very early in the DEMO conceptual design studies in order to provide a fully integrated approach, which is an absolute requirement to ensure that the ambitious goals of this device will be ultimately met.     

Overview of Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector Test Blanket Module development in Korea

Korea plans to install and test Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) Test Blanket Module (TBM) in the ITER, because the HCCR blanket concept is one of options of the DEMO blanket. Currently, many design and R&D activities have been performed to develop the Korean HCCR TBM. An integrated design tool for a fusion breeder blanket has been developed based on nuclear technologies including a safety analysis for obtaining a license for testing in the ITER. A half-scale sub-module mockup of the first wall with the manifold was fabricated, and the manufacturability and thermo-hydraulic performances were evaluated. High heat load and helium cooling test facilities have been constructed. Next, the recent status of TBM material development in Korea was introduced including Reduced Activation Ferritic Martensitic (RAFM) steel, lithium ceramic pebbles and silicon carbide (SiC) coated graphite pebbles. Several fabrication methods of RAFM steel, lithium ceramic pebbles, and silicon carbide coating on graphite pebbles were investigated. Recent design and R&D progress on these areas are introduced here.     

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.     

Manufacturing preparations for the European Vacuum Vessel Sector for ITER

The contract for the seven European Sectors of the ITER Vacuum Vessel, which has very tight tolerances and high density of welding, was placed at the end of 2010 with AMW, a consortium of three companies. The start-up of the engineering, including R&D, design and analysis activities of this large and complex contract, one of the largest placed by F4E, the European Domestic Agency for ITER, is described. The statutory and regulatory requirements of ITER Organization and the French Nuclear Safety regulations have made the design development subject to rigorous controls. AMW was able to make use of the previous extensive R&D and prototype work carried out during the past 9 years, especially in relation to advanced welding and inspection techniques. The paper describes the manufacturing methodology with the focus on controlling distortion with predictions by analysis, avoiding use of welded-on jigs, and making use of low heat input narrow-gap welding with electron beam welding as far as possible and narrow-gap TIG when not. Further R&D and more than ten significant mock-ups are described. All these preparations will help to assure the successful manufacture of this critical path item of ITER.     

ITER articulated inspection arm (AIA): R&d progress on vacuum and temperature technology for remote handling

This paper is part of the remote handling (RH) activities for the future fusion reactor ITER. The aim of the R&D program performed under the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) work program is to demonstrate the feasibility of close inspection tasks such as viewing or leak testing of the Divertor cassettes and the Vacuum Vessel (VV) first wall of ITER.It is assumed that a long reach, limited payload carrier penetrates the ITER chamber through the openings evenly distributed around the machine such as In-Vessel Viewing System (IVVS) access or through upper port plugs.To perform an intervention a short time after plasma shut down, the operation of the robot should be realised under ITER conditioning i.e. under high vacuum and temperature conditions (120 °C).The feasibility analysis drove the design of the so-called articulated inspection arm (AIA) which is a 8.2 m long robot made of five modules with a 11 actuated joints kinematics. A single module prototype was designed in detail and manufactured to be tested under ITER realistic conditions at CEA-Cadarache test facility.As well as demonstrating the potential for the application of an AIA type device in ITER, this program is also dedicated to explore the necessary robotic technologies required to ITER's IVVS deployment system.This paper presents the whole AIA robot concept, the first results of the test campaign on the prototype vacuum and temperature demonstrator module.     

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.     

High heat flux components—Readiness to proceed from near term fusion systems to power plants

A present topic of high interest in magnetic fusion is the “gap” between near-term and long-term concepts for high heat flux components (HHFC), and in particular for divertors. This paper focuses on this issue with the aim of characterizing the international status of current HHFC design concepts for ITER and describing the different technologies needed in the designs being developed for fusion power plants. Critical material and physics aspects are highlighted while evaluating the current readiness level of long-term concepts, identifying the design and R&D gaps, and discussing ways to bridge them.     

The design of the ITER first wall panels

The ITER blanket is in the final stage of design completion. The issues raised during the 2007 ITER design review about the first wall (FW) heat loads and remote handling strategy have been addressed, while integrating the recently confirmed in-vessel coils. This paper focuses on the FW design, which is nearing completion. Key design justifications are presented, followed by a summary of the current status of the manufacturing plan and R&D activities.     

The European contribution to the ITER Remote Maintenance

For a first-of-a-kind nuclear fusion reactor like ITER, remote maintainability of neutron-activated components is one of the key aspects of plant design and operations, and a fundamental ingredient for the demonstration of long-term viability of fusion as energy source.The European Domestic Agency (EU DA, i.e. Fusion for Energy, F4E) is providing important support to the ITER Organisation (IO) in specifying the functional requirements of the Remote Handling (RH) Procurement Packages (i.e. the subsystems allocated to EU DA belonging to the overall ITER Remote Maintenance Systems IRMS), and in performing design and R&D activities – with the support of national laboratories and industries – in order to define a sound concept for these packages.Furthermore, domestic industries are being involved in the subsequent detailed design, validation, manufacturing and installation activities, in order to actually fulfil our procurement-in-kind obligations.After an introduction to ITER Remote Maintenance, this paper will present status and next stages for the RH systems allocated to EU DA, and will also illustrate complementary aspects related to cross cutting technologies like radiation tolerant components and RH control systems.Finally, the way all these efforts are coordinated will be presented together with the overall implementation scenario and key milestones.     

Development of a RF-driven ion source for the ITER NBI system

Extensive R&D work on RF-driven negative hydrogen ion sources carried out at IPP Garching led to the decision of ITER to select this type of source as the new reference source for the ITER NBI system. The principle suitability of the RF source has been demonstrated in a small scale, short pulse length experiment: accelerated current densities, co-extracted electron currents at a source operation pressure, all well inside the range of the ITER requirements have been achieved simultaneously. In subsequent experiments, pulse lengths up to 1 h and the possibility of modularly extending the source to ITER source dimensions were demonstrated. The results achieved at the various IPP test beds, the lessons learnt during optimising the source for negative ion production and extraction as well as the problems still to be solved are summarized. As the next step in support of the NBI development for ITER, IPP plans to build a new test facility for beam extraction from a source of half the size for ITER.     

Materials selection and design for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program is a multinational effort to design and develop the technology for a superconducting magnetic fusion energy reactor that can achieve long burn times using a deuterium-tritium fuel. During the recently completed Conceptual Design Activity (CDA), teams from the U.S., Japan, Soviet Union, and EC generated a baseline design useful for physics and component modeling and also serving as a focus for component and materials R&D. Here I will review the ITER CDA magnet design, choice of magnet structural materials, and the effect of materials and design limitations on ITER operation. In addition, the selection and availability of superconducting materials will be briefly discussed.     

Overview of TBM R&D activities in India

In India, development of Lead–Lithium Ceramic Breeder (LLCB) blanket is being performed as the primary candidate of Test Blanket Module (TBM) towards DEMO reactor. The LLCB TBM will be tested from the first phase of ITER operation (H-H phase) in one-half of an ITER port no. 2. The Indian TBM R&D program is focused on the development of blanket materials and critical technologies: structural material (IN-RAFMS), breeding materials (Pb–Li, Li₂TiO₃), development of technologies for Lead–Lithium cooling system (LLCS), helium cooling system (HCS), tritium extraction system (TES) and TBM related fabrication technologies. This paper will provide an overview of LLCB TBM R&D activities under progress in India.     

Development of in situ cleaning techniques for diagnostic mirrors in ITER

Mirrors will be used in all optical and laser-based diagnostic systems of ITER. In the severe environment, the optical characteristics of mirrors will be degraded, hampering the entire performance of the respective diagnostics. A minute impurity deposition of 20 nm of carbon on the mirror is sufficient to decrease the mirror reflectivity by tens of percent outlining the necessity of the mirror cleaning in ITER. The results of R&D on plasma cleaning of molybdenum diagnostic mirrors are reported. The mirrors contaminated with amorphous carbon films in the laboratory conditions and in the tokamaks were cleaned in steady-state hydrogenic plasmas. The maximum cleaning efficiency of 4.2 nm/min was reached for the laboratory and soft tokamak hydrocarbon films, whereas for the hard tokamak films the carbidization of mirrors drastically decreased the cleaning efficiency down to 0.016 nm/min. This implies the necessity of sputtering cleaning of contaminated mirrors as the only reliable tool to remove the deposits by plasma cleaning. An overview of R&D program on mirror cleaning is provided along with plans for further studies and the recommendations for ITER mirror-based diagnostics.     

A description of the ITER's gas injection systems and current R&D activities

The gas injection system (GIS) is an indispensable part of ITER fueling system. It deliveries the necessary gas species from tritium plant to vacuum vessel, pellet injection system or neutral beam for plasma operation and fusion power shutdown. In this paper, the current design status of GIS, including the previous design changes, is briefly described. As the GIS design justification and support, the experimental study on GIS response time is illustrated. The factors delayed the GIS response time are identified, and two kinds of control mode are proved to be effective for improving the GIS response time. The exploration on magnetic shield design shows the discrepancy of shielding performance occurs in the case of the paralleling external magnetic field to the sample cylinder. These R&D works prove the design feasibility in some ways, and support possible solutions for design challenges as alternative design options.     

IFMIF specifications from the users point of view

This paper summarizes the proposals and findings of the IFMIF Specification Working Group established to update the users requirements and top level specifications for the facility. Special attention is given to the different roadmaps of fusion pathway towards power plants, of materials R&D and of facilities and their interactions. The materials development and validation activities on structural materials, blanket functional materials and non-metallic materials are analyzed and specific objectives and requirements to be implemented in IFMIF are proposed. Emphasis is made in additional potential validation activities that can be developed in IFMIF for ITER TBM qualification as well as for DEMO-oriented mock-up testing.