Development of load specifications for the design of the breeding blanket system

Abstract

Abstract The Breeding Blanket (BB) system with a volume of about 1700 m3 and a plasma front surface of about 1400 m2 represents the largest In-Vessel component of DEMO reactor. Due to its position and its key functions (e.g. tritium production, thermal power removal and shielding), the BB is also one of the most critical component. The single loads acting on the BB can be of different nature (inertial, pressure, thermal and electromagnetic, for instance) and their combination may produce high stresses jeopardizing the BB structural integrity if not carefully taken into account during the design. For these reasons, within the EUROfusion consortium, the development of BB system load specifications has been pursued since the early pre-conceptual design phase. The main goals of this work are: (i) to list all relevant single loads and their combinations to be considered for the verification of BB structural integrity, and the categorization of these relevant load combinations, (ii) to identify the short list of load combinations relevant to the pre-conceptual design review phase in sight of 2020 Gate Review. Particular emphasis is also given to the most representative postulated initiating events, which drive the design of the BB, providing their respective load combination.