Designing tungsten armoured plasma facing components to pulsed heat loads in magnetic fusion machines

A possible design rule for preventing surface damage from thermal transients to solid tungsten armour is proposed and formulated for the plasma facing components (divertor, first wall) of magnetic fusion machines. The rule is based on combined results from laboratory experiments and operating fusion...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: R. Mitteau, M. Diez, M. Firdaouss
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Nuclear Materials and Energy
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235217912400200X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A possible design rule for preventing surface damage from thermal transients to solid tungsten armour is proposed and formulated for the plasma facing components (divertor, first wall) of magnetic fusion machines. The rule is based on combined results from laboratory experiments and operating fusion machines, and fundamental engineering principles such as the heat flux factor (FHF) and fatigue usage fraction (FUF). As an example, the rule would allow 2.104 transient heat loads cycles at a FHF of 10 MJm-2s-½ before the lifetime is considered exhausted. The formulation of the rule using engineering principles allows combining loads of different magnitudes and various number of cycles. A practical example of the rule usage is provided, illustrating loads combination and how the rule may contribute to the component geometrical design. The proposed rule is only valid for surface loading conditions, hence is not usable for volumetric loading conditions such as runaway electrons. Setting a budget lifetime and a design rule does not preclude actual plasma operation beyond the design lifetime. It is actually normal that experimental devices explore a larger domain than the one defined at the time of the design.
ISSN:2352-1791