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U.S. Department of Energy
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Preliminary design of the CIT (Compact Ignition Tokamak) cryostat

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5550252

For the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT) to achieve the performance goals set forth, the toroidal field (TF) and poloidal field (PF) coil systems must operate in a cryogenic temperature regime. The cryostat has been designed to provide and maintain this environment. The preliminary design activity is addressing the design issues and interfaces necessary to provide a cryogenic vessel that will maintain a maximum temperature differential of 8{degree}C between the outer vessel wall and the ambient test cell conditions; operate in a pressure range of +5 psig to {minus}2 psig; accommodate numerous penetrations, including cooling, diagnostic, and gravity support items; and maintain a maximum leak rate of gaseous nitrogen at 1 l/s at 1 atm. Conceptually, the cryostat consists of thermal insulation sandwiched between an inner primary stainless steel pressure vessel and a thin outer stainless steel wall. Design activities have concentrated on determining the size and shape of the primary vessel wall and selecting the best candidate thermal insulation materials for future irradiation testing. The following shapes of the upper and lower cryostat structure were analyzed: a standard ASME torispherical domed top and bottom; a nonstandard domed top and bottom; and a 2{degree} sloped conical top and bottom contour. Screening of candidate insulation materials was based on lowest thermal conductivity over the range of temperatures anticipated in the CIT environment; low material cost and apparent ease of assembly; and survivability of material in the CIT irradiation environment. This paper presents the configuration development of the cryostat used to maintain the cryogenic temperature environment for CIT. 3 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5550252
Report Number(s):
CONF-891007-85; ON: DE90002710
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English