Nuclear analyses for the integration of ITER equatorial Port 2

Abstract

The present work is devoted to nuclear analyses in support of the ITER diagnostic Equatorial Port 2 (EP#2) integration. ITER EP #2 is a diagnostic port based on the long-modular Diagnostic Shielding Module (DSM) housing the following systems: Disruption Mitigation System (DMS) in DSM#1 and #3 and X-Ray Crystal Spectroscopy Core (XRCS-Core) in DSM#2. Ensuring adequate radiation shielding is a major challenge since the diagnostic systems require several apertures from the Vacuum Vessel (VV) through the Port Interspace (PI) and up to the Port Cell (PC). In the present study, a three-dimensional MCNP model of EP#2 has been developed, starting from the latest design available from Preliminary Design Review stage (PDR), and successively integrated into the reference 40° ITER C-Model. Comprehensive nuclear analyses have been carried out employing the D1SUNED v3.1.4 code based on the MCNP Monte Carlo transport code. Relevant nuclear quantities during and at the end of plasma operations have been evaluated: i.e., neutron and gamma fluxes and energy spectra along the port from the Diagnostic First Wall (DFW) up to the Bio-Shield Plug (BP), nuclear heating, neutron damage, helium and tritium production, and shutdown dose rate. This analysis allowed the identification of potentially critical areas, and therefore, the implementation of additional shielding options aimed at reducing the neutron streaming and mitigating of the radiation field in the PI region. In this work, the results of the analyses are presented and discussed. Some solutions to mitigate nuclear loads and to improve the shielding in PI area are proposed and their impact has been assessed. Finally, some recommendations for the optimization of the design of EP#2 are provided as well.