0000000000129151
AUTHOR
Sergio Ciattaglia
Integration of DEMO hazard piping into the tokamak building
Abstract Because of the complexity of the design of a Fusion Power Plant like the EU DEMOnstration power plant the study of the plant layout must proceed in parallel with the design of the major systems. This is necessary to ensure that the design of the plant incorporates from the very beginning sound considerations on: • Safety and licensing, • Personnel security in context with operation and maintenance, • Adequate plant availability, and • Safe performance operation including delivery of few hundred MW net electric power to the electrical grid. Though it is a process of trial and change that follows the design evolution, this approach allows a better and continuous control of the numero…
Preliminary design of EU DEMO helium-cooled breeding blanket primary heat transfer system
Abstract The European DEMO conceptual design foresees four Breeding Blanket (BB) concepts that rely on different cooling and breeding technologies. As DEMO has been conceived to deliver net electricity to the grid, the choice of the blanket coolant plays a pivotal role in the reactor design having a strong influence on plant operation, safety and maintenance. Moreover, the machine pulsed operation makes the BB Primary Heat Transfer System (PHTS) the main hub of the DEMO Balance of Plant (BoP). Within this framework, a study has been carried out to design the Ex-Vessel PHTS of the Helium-Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) BB concept. The paper describes criteria and rationale followed with the aim to …
On the thermal dynamic behaviour of the helium-cooled DEMO fusion reactor
Abstract The EU-DEMO conceptual design is being conducted among research institutions and universities from 26 countries of European Union, Switzerland and Ukraine. Its mission is to realise electricity from nuclear fusion reaction by 2050. As DEMO has been conceived to deliver net electricity to the grid, the choice of the Breeding Blanket (BB) coolant plays a pivotal role in the reactor design having a strong influence on plant operation, safety and maintenance. In particular, due to the pulsed nature of the heat source, the Primary Heat Transfer System (PHTS) becomes a very important actor of the Balance of Plant (BoP) together with the Power Conversion System (PCS). Moreover, aiming to …
Status of EU DEMO heat transport and power conversion systems
Abstract DEMO in Europe is considered to be the nearest-term reactor design to follow ITER and capable of demonstrating production of electricity, operating with a closed fuel-cycle and to be a facilitating machine between ITER and a commercial reactor. The aim of this paper is to show the design progress of the complex system’s “chain” devoted to the extraction of the plasma generated pulsed thermal power and its conversion into electricity delivered to the grid, including the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS), the Power Conversion System (PCS) and the Intermediate Heat Transport System (IHTS) – provided by an Energy Storage System (ESS) – in between PHTS and PCS, which is introduced fo…
Pre-conceptual design of EU-DEMO Divertor primary heat transfer systems
Abstract In the frame of the activities promoted and encouraged by the EUROfusion Power Plant Physics and Technology (PPPT) department aimed at developing the EU-DEMO fusion reactor, strong emphasis has been recently addressed to the whole Balance of Plant (BoP) which represents the set of systems devoted to convert the plasma generated thermal power into electricity and to deliver it to the grid. Among these systems, the Divertor Primary Heat Transfer Systems (PHTSs) are intended to feed coolant to the two main components of the Divertor assembly, namely the Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) and the Cassette Body (CB). Since the DEMO Divertor must withstand high heat flux loads together with…
Investigation of the DEMO WCLL Breeding Blanket Cooling Water Activation
Abstract Within the framework of the activities foreseen by the EUROfusion action on the cooling water activation assessment for a DEMO reactor equipped with a Water Cooled Lithium Lead Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB), the University of Palermo is involved in the assessment of dose rates induced by the decay of nitrogen radioisotopes produced by water activation, nearby the main components (e.g. isolation valves) of both First Wall (FW) and Breeder Zone (BZ) cooling circuits. In particular, the aim of this work is to evaluate the spatial distribution of nitrogen isotopes (16N and 17N) in the WCLL BB cooling circuits. To this purpose, a coupled neutronic/fluid-dynamic problem is solved following …
Pre-conceptual design of EU DEMO balance of plant systems: Objectives and challenges
Abstract The European Research Roadmap to the Realisation of Fusion Energy foresees that the DEMO reactor is going to succeed ITER in the pathway towards the exploitation of nuclear fusion, achieving long plasma operation time, demonstrating tritium self-sufficiency and producing net electric output on an industrial scale. Therefore, its design must be more oriented towards the Balance of Plant (BoP) than it is in ITER. Since the early pre-conceptual phase of the DEMO project, emphasis has been laid on identifying the main requirements affecting the overall architecture of the BoP. For instance, specific efforts and proper solutions have been envisaged to cope with the pulsed nature of the …
Progress in the design development of EU DEMO helium-cooled pebble bed primary heat transfer system
Abstract In the frame of the activities promoted and encouraged by the EURO-fusion Power Plant Physics and Technology (PPPT) department aimed at developing the EU-DEMO fusion reactor, strong emphasis has been recently posed to the whole Balance of Plant (BoP) which represents the set of systems devoted to convert the plasma generated thermal power into electricity and to deliver it to the grid. Among these systems, a very important role is played by the Breeding Blanket (BB) Primary Heat Transfer System (PHTS) as it is responsible to extract more than 80% of the fusion plasma power. In this framework, University of Palermo, Ansaldo Nucleare and CREATE have focused their work to improve ther…
Overview of the DEMO staged design approach in Europe
This paper describes the status of the pre-conceptual design activities in Europe to advance the technical basis of the design of a DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO) to come in operation around the middle of this century with the main aims of demonstrating the production of few hundred MWs of net electricity, the feasibility of operation with a closed-tritium fuel cycle, and maintenance systems capable of achieving adequate plant availability. This is expected to benefit as much as possible from the ITER experience, in terms of design, licensing, and construction. Emphasis is on an integrated design approach, based on system engineering, which provides a clear path for urgent R&D …
The European DEMO fusion reactor: Design status and challenges from balance of plant point of view
DEMO initial conceptual design studies are being conducted in Europe as part of the European Union Roadmap to Fusion Electricity, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of electricity produced by nuclear fusion reactors around the middle of this century. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the DEMO project, highlighting its main characteristics and challenges in terms of design, integration, and operation. Particular emphasis is given on some important systems of the Balance of Plant (BoP), such as the primary heat transfer systems, the related power conversion systems, and the electrical power plant. The relevance of such systems is due to the need of a continuous reanaly…
Initial layout of DEMO buildings and configuration of the main plant systems
Abstract The realization of a Demonstration Fusion Power Reactor (DEMO) to follow ITER, with the capability of generating several hundred MW of net electricity and operating with a closed fuel-cycle is viewed by Europe and many of the nations engaged in the construction of ITER as the remaining crucial step towards the exploitation of fusion power. The development of suitable configurations of plant systems inside the tokamak building to allow for the various maintenance operations and to meet the numerous system operating functions and safety requirements is one of the initial priorities. A task to establish an initial layout of the DEMO buildings and the integration of the main plant syst…
Key EU DEMO plant and building layout criteria
Abstract An early attention to the layout of both plant site and its buildings is essential in a complex plant under preliminary design as DEMO in order to meet the assigned targets, namely i) the licensing requirements ii) a good availability in delivery electricity to the grid. The layout definition has to follow several criteria that become more complex and stringent for nuclear buildings, e.g. functional, maintenance, fire protection, safety, human factors, shielding, and remote handling. The criterion As Low As Reasonable Achievable, with respect to the dose to the staff, has to be applied in design, operation, maintenance and decommissioning phases. The tokamak building, where several…
Integrated design of breeding blanket and ancillary systems related to the use of helium or water as a coolant and impact on the overall plant design
Currently, for the EU DEMO, two Breeding Blankets (BBs) have been selected as potential candidates for the integration in the reactor. They are the Water Cooled Lithium Lead and the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed BB concepts. The two BB variants together with the associated ancillary systems drive the design of the overall plant. Therefore, a holistic investigation of integration issues derived by the BB and the installation of its ancillary systems has been performed. The issues related to the water activation due to the 16N and 17N isotopes and the impact on the primary heat transfer systems have been investigated providing guidelines and dedicated solution for the integration of safety devices…
Progress of the conceptual design of the European DEMO breeding blanket, tritium extraction and coolant purification systems
Abstract In the frame of the EUROfusion consortium activities the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) and the Water Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) concepts are being developed as possible candidates to become driver Breeding Blanket (BB) for the EU DEMO, which aims at the tritium self-sufficiency and net electricity production. The two BB design options encompass water or helium as coolants and solid ceramic with beryllium/beryllides or PbLi as tritium breeder and neutron multipliers. The BB segments have evolved towards a more stable conceptual design taking into account multiple feasibility aspects and requirements imposed by interfacing systems. Possible solutions to improve shielding capabiliti…
Progress in EU Breeding Blanket design and integration
Abstract In Europe (EU), in the frame of the EUROfusion consortium activities, four Breeding Blanket (BB) concepts are being developed with the aim of fulfilling the performances required by a near-term fusion power demonstration plant (DEMO) in terms of tritium self-sufficiency and electricity production. The four blanket options cover a wide range of technological possibilities, as water and helium are considered as possible coolants and solid ceramic breeder in combination with beryllium and PbLi as tritium breeder and neutron multipliers. The strategy for the BB selection and operation has to account for the challenging schedule of the EU DEMO, the ambitious operational requirements of …
Assessment of DEMO WCLL breeding blanket primary heat transfer system isolation valve absorbed doses due to activated water
Abstract Within the framework of the activities foreseen by the EUROfusion action on the cooling water activation assessment for a DEMO reactor equipped with a Water Cooled Lithium Lead Breeding Blanket (WCLL BB), the University of Palermo is involved in the investigation of the absorbed dose induced by the decay of nitrogen radioisotopes produced by water activation, in the main components (e.g. isolation valves) of both First Wall (FW) and Breeder Zone (BZ) cooling circuits. The aim of this work is to assess the spatial distribution of the absorbed dose in the DEMO Upper Pipe Chase (UPC), focusing the attention on the space neighbouring a typical isolation valve of the Primary Heat Transf…