Present status of the conceptual design of the EU test blanket systems

Boccaccini, L.V.; Aiello, A.; Bede, O.; Cismondi, F.; Košek, Lukáš; Ilkei, T.; Salavy, J.-F.; Sardain, P.; Sedano, L.

doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2011.02.036

Cited by 53 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Future helium power plants will also produce helium, both in the fusion reaction itself and through the action of the neutron multiplier, which we assume will be beryllium. In order to estimate helium inventories (loadings), loss rates and the helium production rate, we follow reference [80] and use design data from ITER [83], from the European DEMO power plant design project [84] and from the European test blanket project [85].…”

Section: Helium Requirements For Fusion Power Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Scarcity of Rare Elements for the Energiewende

Bradshaw

Reuter

Hamacher

2013

Green

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Abstract:In the next few decades there is expected to be a global shift in power generation from fossil fuels and nuclear fission to various forms of renewable energy. This process will be accompanied, however, by a strong demand for non-fuel raw materials required for the generation, storage, transmission and utilisation of these energy forms. Some of the raw materials are potentially exhaustible; some are already regarded, rightly or wrongly, as geochemically "scarce". Many of them have been characterised by steep price increases in recent years. Examples are neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium for rare earth-based permanent magnets in wind turbines; indium, gallium, selenium and tellurium for thin film solar cells; helium. The supply situation with regard to such elements is often described as "critical". A possible geochemical scarcity is, however, not the only factor contributing to this designation; the supply situation is influenced by various other parameters. We discuss the use of the terms "critical" and "criticality" in this context, pointing out the confusion which arises because of a different meaning of the terms in the physical sciences. In examining the elements mentioned above -both with respect to the supply situation and to their specific energy-oriented applications -we look at the issues of potential geochemical scarcity, substitutability and extraction as by-product. Together with the recycling potential these are three important indicators, or constraint parameters, in so-called criticality analyses. Geochemical scarcity already seems to play a role in the case of helium and could also soon become apparent for tellurium, indium and possibly dysprosium. We conclude that geochemical scarcity may pertain as a consequence of mineral depletion when average grades of ore are falling, but at the same time inflation-corrected mineral prices are rising. The use of rare metals for the production of renewable energy -like nearly all resource-consuming systems in our societydoes not satisfy "strong" sustainability criteria.

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Section: Helium Requirements For Fusion Power Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential Scarcity of Rare Elements for the Energiewende

Bradshaw

Reuter

Hamacher

2013

Green

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“…Future helium power plants will also produce helium, both in the fusion reaction itself and through the action of the neutron multiplier. In order to estimate helium inventories (loadings) and the helium production rate, we use design data from ITER [19], from the European DEMO power plant [20] ( Table 2) and from the European test blanket project [21]. To achieve tritium self-sufficiency in a future fusion power plant, it will be necessary to employ a neutron multiplier, such as beryllium or lead, which produce further neutrons via (n, 2n) reactions in the blanket of the reactor.…”

Section: The Future Fusion Power Stationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve tritium self-sufficiency in a future fusion power plant, it will be necessary to employ a neutron multiplier, such as beryllium or lead, which produce further neutrons via (n, 2n) reactions in the blanket of the reactor. In the DEMO reactor study [21] a power plant is described which uses helium coolant for two possible types of breeding blanket (HCLL and HCPB). The main DEMO parameters are given in Table 2.…”

Section: The Future Fusion Power Stationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nuclear fusion and the helium supply problem

Bradshaw

Hamacher

2013

Fusion Engineering and Design

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The natural resources required for the operation of fusion power plants are -with the possible exception of the neutron multiplier beryllium -readily available. On the other hand, the supply of helium, which is required as cryogenic medium and coolant, may be a problem due to losses during operation and decommissioning. Helium is a rare element obtained as a by-product in the extraction of natural gas. The danger exists that the natural gas will be used up without the helium being conserved. We estimate the helium demand for a global 30 % base-load contribution of fusion to electricity supply and also calculate the amount produced by the power plants themselves.

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“…This included two main milestones: ITER (International Tokamak Experimental Reactor) and DEMO (DEMOnstration Power Plant). The main objective of ITER is to demonstrate the technological feasibility of fusion energy by producing net thermal energy and testing the required materials [2]. DEMO will be a bridge between ITER and commercial fusion power plants, demonstrating the feasibility of the integration of all the required systems (reactor and balance of plant) to operate a fusion power plant, including issues of security, wastes management, maintenance, and so on.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles for DEMO (demonstration power plant) fusion reactor based on dual coolant lithium lead blanket

Linares

Cantizano

Moratilla

et al. 2016

Energy

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Fusion energy is one of the most promising solutions to the world's energy supply. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the suitability of supercritical CO 2 Brayton power cycles as alternative energy conversion systems for a future fusion reactor based on a dual coolant lithium-lead (DCLL) blanket, as prescribed by EUROfusion. The main issue dealt is the optimization of the integration of the different thermal sources with the power cycle (up to four at different power and temperature levels) in order to achieve the highest electricity production. The analysis includes the assessment of the pumping consumption both in the source loops as in the sink one. Other considerations, as control issues and integration of thermal energy storage systems to face the pulsed operation, have been also taken intoaccount. An exergy analysis has been performed in order to understand the behavior of each layout.Up to ten scenarios have been analyzed, taking into account the heat power released from some thermal sources directly to the sink and assessing different locations for thermal sources heat exchangers.Neglecting the worst four scenarios, it is observed less than 2% of variation among the other six ones.One of the best six scenarios clearly stands out over the others due to the location of the thermal sources in a unique island, being this scenario compatible with the control criteria. In this proposal 34.6% of electric efficiency (before the self-consumptions of the reactor but including pumping consumptions and generator efficiency) is achieved.KEYWORDS: balance of plant, fusion power, supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycle, DCLL, DEMO Highlights:> Supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycles have been proposed for BoP of DCLL fusion reactor.> Integration of different available thermal sources has been analyzed considering ten scenarios.> Neglecting the four worst scenarios the electricity production varies less than 2%. > Control and energy storage integration issues have been considered in the analysis. > Discarding the vacuum vessel and joining the other sources in an island is proposed.-3 -

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Present status of the conceptual design of the EU test blanket systems

Cited by 53 publications

References 13 publications

The Potential Scarcity of Rare Elements for the Energiewende

The Potential Scarcity of Rare Elements for the Energiewende

Nuclear fusion and the helium supply problem

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles for DEMO (demonstration power plant) fusion reactor based on dual coolant lithium lead blanket

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