Primary heat transfer system design of the WCCB blanket for multiple operation modes of CFETR

Abstract

The water cooled ceramic breeder (WCCB) blanket is one of the blanket candidates for Chinese Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor (CFETR). The WCCB blanket design has been updated according to the latest core parameters of CFETR in 2018. The Primary Heat Transfer System (PHTS) of the WCCB blanket is required to remove heat and convert fusion energy under multiple operation modes of CFETR. It is challenging as the heat sources of the PHTS differ greatly with the fusion power ranging from 200 MW to 1.5 GW for multiple operation modes of CFETR. Therefore, the PHTS is designed taking 1.5 GW of fusion power as full power. Then lower fusion power modes can be satisfied with margin. Based on the WCCB blanket module structure, the PHTS is characterized by 2 independent systems, namely Cooling System (CS) 1 for the First Wall (FW), CS 2 for Breeding Zones (BZs). Both systems have two identical and symmetrical loops. Detailed design of the PHTS is performed, including system layout, pipe sizing, system components configuration (e.g., pump, steam generator, pressurizer) and operation schemes. The reliability of the PHTS design is verified by simulation using RELAP5/MOD3.4 under steady states of 200 MW, 500 MW, 1.0 GW and 1.5 GW of fusion power.