TechnoFusión, a relevant facility for fusion technologies: The remote handling area

Abstract

The future commercial production of electricity based on thermonuclear fusion requires the development of a number of research projects in addition to ITER, mostly related to the development of long-term technologies needed for future fusion reactors. Among the priority areas identified in the framework of international fusion research programmes, it is projected to build a specific research centre for fusion technologies in Spain. The so-called National Centre for Fusion Technologies, TechnoFusión, will be equipped with a large number of top facilities for the fusion technological development. The research activities will be focused primarily on several areas, including the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies, the evaluation of radiation effects on low activation structural and functional materials, the in-beam and out-beam characterization of materials, the development of robotics and automated systems for remote handling, studies of liquid metal technologies and computer simulation. Currently no similar facilities to TechnoFusión exist, so it will provide more realistic tests than those available in other facilities up today, helping in the fast track to DEMO and IFMIF. The present document summarizes a review of the different facilities to be included in TechnoFusión, with special emphasis on those proposed for remote handling (RH) applications. The paper will review the technical specifications concerning the RH facility, the analysis of the mock-up components and tests to be performed, and the relevance of the RH lab capabilities, particularly the required equipment under irradiation conditions.