The LiFIRE experimental facility: Final design, construction and experimental campaign

Abstract

Recently, nuclear fusion-related experiments and dedicated facilities worldwide relying on the usage of liquid metals are experiencing a renewed interest.This is the case of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO-Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES), a radioactive facility which will use several cubic meters of pure liquid lithium as a target for deuterons to produce high neutron fluxes having an energy spectrum as effective as the expected fusion reactors. The primary mission of IFMIF-DONES will be to irradiate selected candidate structural materials for building a comprehensive database on fusion material properties.Generally, alkali metals, such as lithium, exhibit safety issues related to their chemical reactive nature and material compatibility. Due to the wide uncertainty regarding the lithium behavior confirmed by an extensive literature review, a dedicated experimental facility has been conceived to primarily study lithium ignition conditions in support of the licensing process of IFMIF-DONES. The ultimate purpose of the LiFIRE facility will be to demonstrate by means of experimental evidences the set of requirements on lithium fire protection to be applied to the final engineering design of IFMIF-DONES.This work describes the final design, construction and experimental campaign of the LiFIRE facility currently under development at CIEMAT's premises.