Abstract
The need of a neutron source for the qualification of materials to be used in future fusion power reactors has been recognized in the European Union (EU) fusion programme for many years. The construction and exploitation of this facility is presently considered to be critical to the construction of the DEMOnstration Power Plant (DEMO). This issue has prompted the EU to launch activities for the design and engineering of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility-DEMO Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) facility based on and taking profit of the results obtained in the Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (IFMIF/EVEDA) project, presently conducted in the framework of the EU–Japan Bilateral Agreement on the Broader Approach to Fusion.These activities and research and development work for the IFMIF-DONES plant are presently taking place in the framework of a work package of the EUROfusion Consortium, in direct collaboration with the Fusion for Energy organization. The main objective of these activities is to consolidate the design and underlying technology basis in order to be ready for the start of the IFMIF-DONES construction as early as possible.In this paper, an overview and the present status of the IFMIF-DONES engineering design is presented for a generic site, making emphasis on the recent design evolution from previous phases.
Highlights
A fusion-relevant neutron source is a more than three-decadeslong pending step for the successful development of fusion energy
T he access cell mast crane is a nuclear-grade doublebeam overhead crane with a telescopic mast equipped with a change gripping system to allow for the connection of different end effectors, including a parallel kinematic manipulator to manage the positioning of the target assembly, a robotic arm to manage the various remote handling (RH) tools for the different connection/disconnection and inspections operations inside the test cell (TC), the interface for lifting/lowering the high flux test module (HFTM), and a mast grapple for vertical handling of components with masses up to 1000 kg
Based on the design configuration described in the previous sections, it is concluded that the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF)-DONES facility will be able to produce a neutron flux distribution with significant dose rates in the required irradiation volume
Summary
A fusion-relevant neutron source is a more than three-decadeslong pending step for the successful development of fusion energy. The radiation-exposed components must withstand the severe operational conditions without significant impact on their dimensional stability or their mechanical and physical properties, together with the low presence of long-lived activation-prone constituent isotopes and moderate decay heat [4] This needs to be demonstrated through material irradiations in a suitable neutron source facility under fusion-relevant conditions. An initial DEMO phase is foreseen with a maximum dose around 20 dpa for components integration testing, and a second DEMO phase with a maximum dose around 50 dpa [24] In this way, the requirements for the early phase of the neutron source are significantly reduced, opening the possibility of a staged approach to IFMIF in which its construction can be developed in phases—the first one focused only on DEMO needs, which in turn gives rise to the IFMIF-DONES project [25]. This is a preliminary step required to move forward with the engineering design activities for a specific site and the subsequent construction activities planned to be started in the early 2020s
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
