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Title: Displacement damage in the first structural wall of an inertial confinement fusion reactor: dependence on blanket design

Abstract

In this study we investigate how the design of the neutron blanket effects the displacement damage rate in the first structural wall (FSW) of an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) reactor. Two generic configurations are examined; in the first, the steel wall is directly exposed to the fusion neutrons, whereas in the second, the steel wall is protected by inner blanket of lithium with an effective thickness of 1-m. The latter represents a HYLIFE-type design, which has been shown to have displacement damage rates an order of magnitude lower than unprotected wall designs. The two basic configurations were varied to show how the dpa rate changes as the result of (1) adding a Li blanket outside the FSW, (2) adding a neutron reflector (graphite) outside the FSW, and (3) changing the position of the inner lithium blanket relative to the FSW. The effects of neutron moderation in the compressed DT-target are also shown, and the unprotected and protected configurations compared.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6712629
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 6712629; Legacy ID: DE84015082
Report Number(s):
UCID-20121
ON: DE84015082
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BREEDING BLANKETS; DESIGN; FIRST WALL; HYLIFE CONVERTER; DISPLACEMENT RATES; GRAPHITE; LITHIUM; PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; SHIELDING; ALKALI METALS; CARBON; ELEMENTAL MINERALS; ELEMENTS; LASER FUSION REACTORS; METALS; MINERALS; NONMETALS; RADIATION EFFECTS; REACTOR COMPONENTS; THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS; THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS 700201* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering

Citation Formats

Meier, W.R. Displacement damage in the first structural wall of an inertial confinement fusion reactor: dependence on blanket design. United States: N. p., 1984. Web. doi:10.2172/6712629.
Meier, W.R. Displacement damage in the first structural wall of an inertial confinement fusion reactor: dependence on blanket design. United States. doi:10.2172/6712629.
Meier, W.R. Fri . "Displacement damage in the first structural wall of an inertial confinement fusion reactor: dependence on blanket design". United States. doi:10.2172/6712629. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6712629.
@article{osti_6712629,
title = {Displacement damage in the first structural wall of an inertial confinement fusion reactor: dependence on blanket design},
author = {Meier, W.R.},
abstractNote = {In this study we investigate how the design of the neutron blanket effects the displacement damage rate in the first structural wall (FSW) of an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) reactor. Two generic configurations are examined; in the first, the steel wall is directly exposed to the fusion neutrons, whereas in the second, the steel wall is protected by inner blanket of lithium with an effective thickness of 1-m. The latter represents a HYLIFE-type design, which has been shown to have displacement damage rates an order of magnitude lower than unprotected wall designs. The two basic configurations were varied to show how the dpa rate changes as the result of (1) adding a Li blanket outside the FSW, (2) adding a neutron reflector (graphite) outside the FSW, and (3) changing the position of the inner lithium blanket relative to the FSW. The effects of neutron moderation in the compressed DT-target are also shown, and the unprotected and protected configurations compared.},
doi = {10.2172/6712629},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 1984},
month = {Fri Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 1984}
}

Technical Report:

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  • This report concerns problems involved in recondensing first-wall materials vaporized by x rays and pellet debris in the Cascade inertial confinement fusion reactor. It examines three proposed first-wall materials, beryllium oxide (BeO), silicon carbide (SiO), and pyrolytic graphite (C), paying particular attention to the chemical equilibrium and kinetics of the vaporized gases. The major results of this study are as follows. Ceramic materials composed of diatomic molecules, such as BeO and SiC, exist as highly dissociated species after vaporization. The low gas density precludes significant recombination during times of interest (i.e., less than 0.1 s). The dissociated species (Be, O,more » Si, and C) are, except for carbon, quite volatile and are thermodynamically stable as a vapor under the high temperature and low density found in Cascade. These materials are thus unsuitable as first-wall materials. This difficulty is avoided with pyrolytic graphite. Since the condensation coefficient of monatomic carbon vapor (approx. 0.5) is greater than that of the polyatomic vapor (<0.1), recondensation is assisted by the expected high degree of dissociation. The proposed 10-layer granular carbon bed is sufficient to condense all the carbon vapor before it penetrates to the BeO layer below. The effective condensation coefficient of the porous bed is about 50% greater than that of a smooth wall. An estimate of the mass flux leaving the chamber results in a condensation time for a carbon first wall of about 30 to 50 ms. An experiment to investigate condensation in a Cascade-like chamber is proposed.« less
  • The atomic displacement and hydrogen and helium gas production rates in a 1-cm-thick type-316 stainless steel first wall have been calculated as a function of blanket composition in a typical one-dimensional fusion reactor model. For a 50-cm-thick blanket, variations in the rates of atomic displacement and hydrogen and helium gas production of factors of 2.7, 1.3, and 1.2, respectively, were obtained. The dependence of the radiation damage responses on the thickness of the first wall and blanket are also given.
  • Present and future irradiation facilities for the study of fusion reactor irradiation damage are reviewed. Present studies are centered on irradiation in accelerator-based neutron sources, fast- and mixed-spectrum fission reactors, and ion accelerators. The accelerator-based neutron sources are used to demonstrate damage equivalence between high-energy neutrons and fission reactor neutrons. Once equivalence is demonstrated, the large volume of test space available in fission reactors can be used to study displacement damage, and in some instances, the effects of high-helium concentrations and the interaction of displacement damage and helium on properties. Ion bombardment can be used to study the mechanisms ofmore » damage evolution and the interaction of displacement damage and helium. These techniques are reviewed, and typical results obtained from such studies are examined. Finally, future techniques and facilities for developing damage levels that more closely approach those expected in an operating fusion reactor are discussed.« less
  • This meeting was held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on March 17, 1989, to review the technical progress on the collaborative DOE/JAERI program on fusion reactor materials. The purpose of the program is to determine the effects of neutron irradiation on the mechanical behavior and dimensional stability of US and Japanese austenitic stainless steels. Phase I of the program focused on the effects of high concentrations of helium on the tensile, fatigue, and swelling properties of both US and Japanese alloys. In Phase II of the program, spectral and isotropic tailoring techniques are fully utilized to reproduce the helium:dpa ratiomore » typical of the fusion environment. The Phase II program hinges on a restart of the High Flux Isotope Reactor by mid-1989. Eight target position capsules and two RB* position capsules have been assembled. The target capsule experiments will address issues relating to the performance of austenitic steels at high damage levels including an assessment of the performance of a variety of weld materials. The RB* capsules will provide a unique and important set of data on the behavior of austenitic steels irradiated under conditions which reproduce the damage rate, dose, temperature, and helium generation rate expected in the first wall and blanket structure of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.« less
  • Self-consistent sets of materials-property data are developed for H-451 graphite, POCO carbon, pyrocarbon, and chemical-vapor-deposited silicon carbide. An inertial-confinement fusion reactor fuel-pellet output which produces primarily a surface heat flux on the first wall, typical of a debris pulsed heat load, is then defined for calculation of the thermal and stress response of first walls constructed from the above materials. Vaporization rates determined by maximum surface temperature and compressive stresses on the surface from temperature changes are calculated and may be used to determine cavity wall radii for a variety of pellet output-wall lifetime limits.