Study of the helium-cooled lithium lead test blanket module nuclear behaviour under irradiation in ITER

Abstract

Abstract The present paper deals with the detailed investigation of the helium-cooled lithium lead test blanket module (HCLL-TBM) nuclear behaviour under irradiation in ITER, carried out at the Department of Nuclear Engineering of the University of Palermo adopting a numerical approach based on the Monte Carlo method. A realistic 3D heterogeneous model of the HCLL-TBM was set-up and inserted into an ITER 3D semi-heterogeneous model that realistically simulates the reactor lay-out up to the cryostat. A Gaussian-shaped neutron source was adopted for the calculations. The main features of the HCLL-TBM nuclear response were assessed, paying a particular attention to the neutronic and photonic deposited power, the tritium production rate and the spatial distribution of their volumetric densities. Structural material irradiation damage was also investigated through the evaluation of displacement per atom and helium and hydrogen production rates.