Safety characteristics of options for plasma-facing components for ITER and beyond
Plasma-facing components (PFC) likely dominate the safety hazards of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and post-ITER machines. To gain regulatory approval and for fusion energy to fulfill its ultimate attractive safety and environmental potential, safety must be considered when selecting among PFC options. This paper summarizes current PFC safety information. PFC safety issues fall into seven areas: disruption tolerance, disruption severity, tritium inventory and permeation, accidental energy release, activation/toxin hazards, cooling disturbances, and system issues. RFC options include current ITER mainline options (Be or W coating, C tiles), variants on current ITER options, and liquid metal (LM) divertors. No PFC option that we have examined is free of critical safety concerns. There are also innovative ideas that may improve any PFC's performance -- super-permeable vacuum ducts, helium self-pumping, and gaseous divertors. We conclude with recommendations and a future strategy. 17 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 6098637
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-91224; CONF-910968-44; ON: DE92003294
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 14. IEEE symposium on fusion engineering, San Diego, CA (United States), 30 Sep - 3 Oct 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DIVERTORS
SAFETY ANALYSIS
ITER TOKAMAK
REACTOR SAFETY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LIQUID METALS
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA DISRUPTION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
MATERIALS
METALS
SAFETY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
700420* - Fusion Technology- Plasma-Facing Components- (1992-)