Assessment of the Thermo-mechanical Performances of a DEMO Water-Cooled Liquid Metal Blanket Module

Abstract

Within the framework of DEMO R&D activities, a research cooperation has been launched between ENEA-Brasimone, CEA-Saclay and the University of Palermo to investigate the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the outboard equatorial module of the DEMO1 Water-Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) blanket, both under normal operation and over-pressurization steady state scenarios. The research campaign has been carried out following a theoretical-computational approach based on the finite element method (FEM) and adopting a qualified commercial FEM code. In particular, two different three-dimensional FEM models of the WCLL blanket module have been set-up to be used for normal operation and over-pressurization analysis, respectively. The former reproduces realistically the WCLL blanket module central poloidal–radial region, including one breeder cell in the toroidal direction and all the five cells in the radial one. The latter simulates the entire module segment box, without including the breeder and its cooling tubes. Two set of uncoupled steady state thermo-mechanical analyses have been carried out with reference to the investigated loading scenarios. In particular, under normal operation scenario (level A) the module has been supposed to undergo both 15.5 MPa coolant pressure on its cooling channels walls and thermal deformations due to the flat-top plasma operational state thermal field, while under over-pressurization scenario (level D) it has been assumed to experience 15.5 MPa coolant pressure on its segment box internal walls while operating at normal operation thermal level. Results obtained are presented and critically discussed according to the SDC IC code

Advancements in DEMO WCLL breeding blanket design and integration

“…In order to verify the outcomes of the parametric analysis, the thermo‐mechanical performances of the four optimized configurations selected were investigated by running more detailed and accurate FEM analyses. To this purpose, four different 3D FEM models are set up, realistically reproducing the central PR slice of the WCLL BB EOM . Each model includes one breeder cell in the toroidal direction, and all the five breeder cells in the radial direction (Figure ).…”

“…A parametric analysis campaign devoted to size the SPs was performed. To this purpose, an SP grid geometric layout foreseeing both radial–poloidal and radial–toroidal plates is assumed, as an alternative to that previously considered in , in order to accomplish two main goals.…”

“…Forced convective heat transfer between structure and coolant was simulated by modelling convective heat transfer within the water domain with a simplified FEM approach and adopting a proper thermal contact model between the coolant and the structure wetted walls .…”

Analysis of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead breeding blanket module under normal operation steady state conditions

“…All these cells have been properly simulated taking into account their Lithium-Lead (Pb-Li) breeder, their 30 cooling Double Walled Tubes (DWTs) and the cooling water the path of which is described in [11]. Moreover, water flowing through the FW-SWs and the Top and Bottom Caps (TC and BC) cooling channels has been simulated too [8].…”

“…Within this framework, a research campaign has been launched in close cooperation with CEA and ENEA by the University of Palermo (that has been, long time now, involved in the investigation of liquid metal blankets [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]), to theoretically assess the thermo-mechanical performances of the outboard equatorial module of the DEMO1-WCLL blanket. The present paper reports the scope of the research activity, describes its assumptions and methodology and critically discusses results obtained, also in view of the Structural Design Criteria In-vessel Component (SDC-IC) code [9].…”