Significance of ITER IWS Material Selection and Qualification

Abstract

In-Wall Shielding (IWS) is one of the important components of ITER Vacuum Vessel (VV) which fills the space between double walls of VV with cooling water. Procurement Arrangement (PA) for IWS has been signed with Indian Domestic Agency (INDA). Procurement of IWS materials, fabrication of IWS blocks and its delivery to respective Domestic Agency (DA) and ITER Organization (IO) are the main scope of this PA. Hence, INDIA is the only country which is contributing to VV IWS among all seven ITER partners. The main functions of the IWS are to provide Neutron Shielding with blanket, VV shells and water during plasma operations and to reduce ripple of the Toroidal Magnetic Field. To meet these functional requirements IWS blocks are made up of special materials (Borated Steels SS304 B4 & SS304 B7, Ferritic Steels SS 430, Austenitic Steel SS 316 L (N)-IG, XM-19 and Inconel-625) which are qualified, reliable and traceable for the design assessment. The choice of these materials has a significant influence on performance, maintainability, licensing, detailed design parameters and waste disposal. The main reasons for the materials selected for IWS are its high mechanical strength at operating temperatures, water chemistry properties, excellent fabrication characteristics and low cost relative to other similar materials. All the materials are qualified with respect to their respective codes (ASTM/EN standards with additional requirements as described in RCC-MR code 2007) and ITER requirements. Agreed Notified Body (ANB) has control conformity of materials certificates with approved material specification and traceability procedure for Safety Important Component (SIC). The procurement strategy for all the IWS materials has been developed in close collaboration with IO, ANB and Industries as per Product Procurement Specification (PPS). The R&D for sample, bulk material production, testing, inspection and handling as required are carried out by IN DA and IO. At present almost all IWS materials (∼2500 Tons) has been procured by IN DA with spares to manufacture ∼9000 IWS blocks. This paper summarizes IWS material selection, qualification and procurement processes in detail.