The integral analysis of 40 mm diameter pipe rupture in cooling system of fusion facility W7-X with ASTEC code

Abstract

Fusion is the energy production technology, which could potentially solve problems with growing energy demand of population in the future. Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is an experimental facility of stellarator type, which is currently being built at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plasmaphysics located in Greifswald, Germany. W7-X shall demonstrate that in future the energy could be produced in such type of fusion reactors. The safety analysis is required before the operation of the facility could be started. A rupture of 40mm diameter pipe, which is connected to the divertor unit (module for plasma cooling) to ensure heat removal from the vacuum vessel in case of no-plasma operation mode “baking” is one of the design basis accidents to be investigated. During “baking” mode the vacuum vessel structures and working fluid – water are heated to the temperature 160°C. This accident was selected for the detailed analysis using integral code ASTEC, which is developed by IRSN (France) and GRS mbH (Germany).This paper presents the integral analysis of W7-X response to a selected accident scenario. The model of the main cooling circuit and “baking” circuit was developed for ASTEC code. There were analysed two cases: (1) rupture of a pipe connected to the upper divertor unit and (2) rupture of a pipe connected to the lower divertor unit. The results of analysis showed that in both cases the water is almost completely released from the units into the plasma vessel. In both cases the pressure in the plasma vessel rapidly increases and in 28s the set point for burst disc opening is reached preventing further pressurisation.