The design and test of the electrical insulation break for the EAST Divertor primary heat transfer system

Abstract

Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is one of the important steady-state divertor Tokamak physical experiment platforms in the world. The main functions of the high-temperature and high-pressure Divertor Primary Heat Transfer System (DIV PHTS) are to provide high-pressure cooling water for the divertor to remove the heat load deposited on the divertor under the plasma operation mode and to provide high-temperature nitrogen gas for the divertor system to achieve vacuum condition during the baking mode. The stability and reliable operation of the DIV PHTS play an important role in the EAST tokamak plasma physics experiment. The high-temperature and high-voltage electrical insulation break are one of the important components of the system. The main function of the Electrical Insulation Break (EIB) is to break the closed circuit of the heat transfer system to avoid eddy current during plasma discharge affecting the magnetic field distribution characteristics of the tokamak. On the other way, it also needs to meet the requirement, there is no leak of the cooling water and nitrogen gas during cooling and baking operation mode. This paper proposes the design of an electrical insulating break (EIB) to meet the design requirements of EAST tokamak at first. Then the electric field analysis is carried out by using a finite element model to evaluate its electrical insulation characteristics. And the sealing structural characteristics are verified by applying the finite element method under two design modes. Finally, the sealing test result under the high-temperature baking and high-pressure cooling modes are presented to validate the design.