Publications Details

Design considerations for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) plasma facing components

Mcgrath, R.T.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a joint design and R D project involving the USA, the Soviet Union, Japan and the European Community. These international partners are working together on the design of a fusion tokamak reactor that will operate in the D-T ignition regime. This report compiles the contributions to ITER made by Sandia National Laboratories in the area of design and R D for plasma facing components, such as the first wall and divertor. The following topics are discussed: divertor fabrication issues, divertor thermal-hydraulic analysis, separatrix sweeping effects, divertor tile 2-D stress analysis, electromechanical disruption effects, runaway electron and intense energy deposition analyses, lifetime analysis and tritium retention in plasma facing materials. Material properties for pyrolytic graphite and beryllium are presented. Use of pyrolytic graphite as the plasma facing material allows for operation with thicker graphite armor at the design heat flux level of 10 MW/m/sup 2/. The design of a divertor coated with plasma sprayed beryllium is presented as an attractive alternative to pyrolytic graphite armor tiles. Finally, the Sandia research and development plan for ITER is discussed. 82 figs.