Search results for "fusion"
showing 10 items of 4513 documents
Advancements in DEMO WCLL breeding blanket design and integration
2017
Summary The water-cooled lithium–lead breeding blanket is a candidate option for the European Demonstration Power Plant (DEMO) nuclear fusion reactor. This breeding blanket concept relies on the liquid lithium–lead as breeder–multiplier, pressurized water as coolant, and EUROFER as structural material. The current design is based on DEMO 2015 specifications and represents the follow-up of the design developed in 2015. The single-module-segment approach is employed. This is constituted by a basic geometry repeated along the poloidal direction. The power is removed by means of radial–toroidal (i.e., horizontal) water cooling tubes in the breeding zone. The lithium–lead flows in a radial–poloi…
Design, manufacturing and testing of a fast disconnecting system for the European target assembly concept of IFMIF
2013
The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) will be equipped with a lithium target assembly to produce the required neutron flux for the irradiation of candidate fusion materials up to a damage rate of 100 dpa (cumulated damage in five years). The present European target assembly design is based on the so called replaceable backplate bayonet concept that was developed with the objective to simplify the maintenance operations for its refurbishment/replacement and to reduce the material for disposal as well. To this purpose it was also conceived to be attached to the lithium pipes and to the beam line by means of remotely operated connections based on clamped flanges with …
Increasing the accuracy of untaught robot positions by means of a multi-camera system
2010
We aim to improve the absolute in line positional accuracy of a robot-guided effector to better than 1 mm. We do so using photogrammetric techniques and by relying heavily on simulations to fine tune each parameter and avoid weak configurations. We also use simulations to design an LED calibration object adapted to this application. A test procedure enables us to validate both the simulated results as well as the calibration procedure. The test results exceed expectations by improving the absolute positioning of a robot effector by a factor of 20.
Validation of the group nuclear safety climate questionnaire.
2013
Abstract Introduction Group safety climate is a leading indicator of safety performance in high reliability organizations. Zohar and Luria (2005) developed a Group Safety Climate scale (ZGSC) and found it to have a single factor. Method The ZGSC scale was used as a basis in this study with the researchers rewording almost half of the items on this scale, changing the referents from the leader to the group, and trying to validate a two-factor scale. The sample was composed of 566 employees in 50 groups from a Spanish nuclear power plant. Item analysis, reliability, correlations, aggregation indexes and CFA were performed. Results Results revealed that the construct was shared by each unit, a…
Coupling CFD with a one-dimensional model to predict the performance of reverse electrodialysis stacks
2017
Abstract Different computer-based simulation models, able to predict the performance of Reverse ElectroDialysis (RED) systems, are currently used to investigate the potentials of alternative designs, to orient experimental activities and to design/optimize prototypes. The simulation approach described here combines a one-dimensional modelling of a RED stack with a fully three-dimensional finite volume modelling of the electrolyte channels, either planar or equipped with different spacers or profiled membranes. An advanced three-dimensional code was used to provide correlations for the friction coefficient (based on 3-D solutions of the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations) and the Sherwoo…
Sensor-Assisted Machining
2008
This chapter provides comprehensive knowledge regarding the application of various sensors and monitoring techniques to machining processes, cutting tools and machine tools. A number of monitoring methods used in manufacturing and relevant sensors are characterized. In particular, three most frequently used sensors, i.e., force, acceleration and acoustic emission, are presented and their characteristics and advantages are highlighted. The architectures of multiple-sensor tool-monitoring systems for detection of tool wear and breakage and collision for machine tools, including details of sensor fusion, signal processing and decision-making, are presented. Moreover, the concepts of sensor-bas…
Engineering design and steady state thermomechanical analysis of the IFMIF European lithium target system
2013
In the framework of the current IFMIF Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (IFMIF/EVEDA) phase, ENEA is responsible for the design of the European concept of the IFMIF lithium target system which foresees the possibility to periodically replace only the most irradiated and thus critical component (i.e., the backplate) while continuing to operate the rest of the target for a longer period (bayonet backplate concept). In this work, the results of the steady state thermomechanical analysis of the IFMIF EU target assembly are briefly reported highlighting the relevant indications obtained with respect to the fulfillment of the design requirements. © 2013 IEEE.
Mock-up testing facilities and qualification strategy for EU ITER TBMs
2010
European test blanket modules (TBM) for both European blanket concepts, namely the Helium Cooled Lithium Lead (HCLL) and the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB), and their auxiliary systems have been designed in the last years. This paper presents the experimental facilities available in Europe for the qualification tests of European TBMs. In particular, devices designed to analyze specific technological issues, for example corrosion under strong magnetic fields or tritium management and extraction, as well as large scale facility to perform integral tests are described. A preliminary overview on the qualification strategy is presented and discussed.
Stability and Noises Evaluation of Fuzzy Kalman UAV Navigation System.
2009
In this paper a new Fuzzy/Kalman navigation system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is presented. A closed loop velocity Fuzzy navigation system is proposed for stabilizing the UAV in a reference trajectory generated dynamically and for obtaining a forward velocity command. The Kalman's filter (KF) is included in the feedback line of the fuzzy control system to filter the internal noise of the sensors and to evaluate the external noise due to possible perturbations of the nominal motion. The efficiency of the navigation system has been shown through experimental tests in a Matlab environment.
Fuzzy Data Fusion for Real-World Mapping Using 360° Rotating Ultrasonic Sensor
1997
Abstract Mobile robot perception of the external environment is limited by the features of the used sensor. An useful technique used to improve robot perception is data fusion. This paper presents an approach to build a map of an unknown environment applying fuzzy data fusion methods to data acquired through an ultrasonic sensor. Conditioning of these data and motion control of the mobil robot by fuzzy data fusion are also described. The resulting two dimensional map is used for path planning and navigation. The proposed approach is exrperimentally tested using real distance measures acquired by a 360° rotating sensor.