Thermodynamic simulation and structural optimization of the collimator in the drift duct of EAST-NBI

Abstract

The collimator is one of the high-heat-flux components used to avoid a series of vacuum and thermal problems. In this paper, the heat load distribution throughout the collimator is first calculated through experimental data, and a transient thermodynamic simulation analysis of the original model is carried out. The error of the pipe outlet temperature between the simulated and experimental values is 1.632%, indicating that the simulation result is reliable. Second, the model is optimized to improve the heat transfer performance of the collimator, including the contact mode between the pipe and the flange, the pipe material and the addition of a twisted tape in the pipe. It is concluded that the convective heat transfer coefficient of the optimized model is increased by 15.381% and the maximum wall temperature is reduced by 16.415%; thus, the heat transfer capacity of the optimized model is effectively improved. Third, to adapt the long-pulse steady-state operation of the experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in the future, steady-state simulations of the original and optimized collimators are carried out. The results show that the maximum temperature of the optimized model is reduced by 37.864% compared with that of the original model. The optimized model was changed as little as possible to obtain a better heat exchange structure on the premise of ensuring the consumption of the same mass flow rate of water so that the collimator can adapt to operational environments with higher heat fluxes and long pulses in the future. These research methods also provide a reference for the future design of components under high-energy and long-pulse operational conditions.