Probabilistic analysis of divertor plate lifetime in tokamak reactors
- Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)
Defining a methodology for a reliability estimate of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) divertor is the objective of the study summarized in this paper. If ITER could be designed such that no transients of any type occurred, the divertor reliability would be controlled by erosion of material during normal operation. The occurrence of several transient events results in important contribution to the expected divertor failure rate. Some transients cause the temperature in the divertor plate (DP) to rise; if these temperatures get too high, the structural elements in the DP will weaken and subsequently suffer structural failure and possibly reach the melting temperature. Using the limited data available leads to the result that there is a high probability that the DP will reliably withstand a peak heat flux of 11 MW/m{sup 2}. However, transient events will lead to a much shorter lifetime than desirable for DP`s, mainly due to the expected severe effects of plasma disruptions. If transients occurred, but the shutdown mechanism succeeded to perform without inducing a disruption, divertor reliability could be significantly improved. Improved characterization of the disruption conditions, and enlarged scope of failure modes should be pursued to gain confidence in the present conclusions.
- OSTI ID:
- 41449
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940630-; ISSN 0748-1896; TRN: 95:002923-0034
- Journal Information:
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 26, Issue 3; Conference: 11. topical meeting on the technology of fusion energy, New Orleans, LA (United States), 19-24 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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