Helium Cooled Lithium Lead Research Articles

Current design of the European TBM systems and implications on DEMO breeding blanket

Europe is committed in developing the design of the two Test Blanket Systems (TBS) based on HCLL (Helium Cooled Lithium Lead) and HCPB (Helium Cooled Pebble Bed) breeding blanket (BB) concepts. The complexity of the TBS design comes not only from the innovative fabrication technologies and materials adopted for Test Blanket Modules (TBM) but also from the requirements and functions that the TBM ancillary systems have to satisfy and implement. Indeed, the main TBM ancillary systems, namely the Helium Cooling System, the Coolant Purification System and Tritium Extraction System, all belonging to the Safety Important Class (SIC), have to implement fundamental functions, like the transport of the surface and volumetric heat from the TBM to the heat sink, the extraction and processing of the tritium generated in the TBM, the confinement of radioactive inventory, the support to the investment protection and safety functions. On top of the full compliance with the ITER safety principles, the design of the TBM systems is focused on providing high operational reliability and availability not to jeopardize ITER program and, at the same time, also a good operational flexibility to make possible the achievement of the main TBM scientific objectives.This paper gives an overview of the design status of the HCLL and HCPB-TBM (ancillary) systems, updated to the conclusion of the conceptual design phase (CDR). The most relevant technologies, the still open points, the main issues related to the integration in ITER and last relevant results from the on-going R&D activities carried out in Europe are presented and discussed. In the last part, different considerations are proposed about the impact of the design and operation of the main HCLL and HCPB-TBM ancillary systems technologies on the design of a DEMO BB.

Feasibility study of a neutron activation system for EU test blanket systems

The Neutron Activation System (NAS) for the EU Helium Cooled Lithium Lead (HCLL) and Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) Test Blanket Systems (TBSs) is an instrument that is proposed to determine the absolute neutron fluence and absolute neutron flux with information on the neutron spectrum in selected positions of the corresponding Test Blanket Modules (TBMs). In the NAS activation probes are exposed to the ITER neutron flux for periods ranging from several tens of seconds up to a full plasma pulse length, and the induced gamma activities are subsequently measured. The NAS is composed of a pneumatic transfer system and a counting station. The pneumatic transfer system includes irradiation ends in TBMs, transfer pipes, return gas pipes, a transfer station with a distributor (carousel), and a pressurized gas driving system, while the counting station consists of gamma ray detectors, signal processing electronic devices, and data analyzing software for neutron source strength evaluation. In this paper, a brief description on the proposed TBM NAS as well as the key components is presented, and the integration challenges of TBM NAS are outlined.

Methodology for accident analyses of fusion breeder blankets and its application to helium-cooled pebble bed blanket

‘Fusion for Energy’ (F4E) is designing, developing, and implementing the European Helium-Cooled Lead-Lithium (HCLL) and Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) Test Blanket Systems (TBSs) for ITER (Nuclear Facility INB-174). Safety demonstration is an essential element for the integration of these TBSs into ITER and accident analysis is one of its critical components. A systematic approach to accident analysis has been developed under the F4E contract on TBS safety analyses. F4E technical requirements, together with Amec Foster Wheeler and INL efforts, have resulted in a comprehensive methodology for fusion breeding blanket accident analysis that addresses the specificity of the breeding blanket designs, materials, and phenomena while remaining consistent with the approach already applied to ITER accident analyses. The methodology phases are illustrated in the paper by its application to the EU HCPB TBS using both MELCOR and RELAP5 codes.

Shutdown dose rate analysis of European test blanket modules shields in ITER Equatorial Port #16

‘Fusion for Energy’ (F4E) is designing, developing, and implementing the European Helium-Cooled Lead-Lithium (HCLL) and Helium-Cooled Pebble-Bed (HCPB) Test Blanket Systems (TBSs) for ITER (Nuclear Facility INB-174). An essential element of the Conceptual Design Review (CDR) of these TBSs is the demonstration of capability of Test Blanket Modules (TBM) and their shields to fulfil their function and comply with the design requirements. One of the TBM shields highly relevant design aspects is the project target for shutdown dose rates (SDDR) in the interspace. We investigated two functions of the TBMs and TBM shields—the neutron flux attenuation along the shields, and the reduction of the activation of the components contributing to SDDR. It is shown that TBMs and TBM shields reduce significantly the neutron flux in the port plug (PP). In terms of neutron flux attenuation, the TBM shield provides sufficient neutron flux reduction, being responsible for 5×106n/cm2s at port interspace, while the EPP gaps and BSM gaps are responsible for 5×107n/cm2s each. When considering closed upper, lower and lateral neighbour equatorial ports (thus, excluding the cross-talk between ports), a SDDR of 121μSv/h averaged near the port closure flange was obtained, out of which, only 4μSv/h are due to the activation of TBMs and TBM shields. Maximum SDDR in the range of 300–350μSv/h were observed in the interspace. Thus, although the SDDR are found above the project target the good performance of the TBM shields design was demonstrated. Two main reasons for high SDDR were identified in this work—the neutron streaming through the equatorial PP gaps and the neutron penetration through the blanket shield modules and vacuum vessel.

Feasibility analysis of vacuum sieve tray for tritium extraction in the HCLL test blanket system

This paper describes the quantitative analysis for the design of a tritium extraction system that uses liquid PbLi droplets in vacuum (Vacuum Sieve Tray, VST), for application to the ITER helium-cooled lithium lead (HCLL) test blanket system (TBS). The parametric dependences of tritium extraction efficiency from the main geometrical features such as initial droplet velocity, nozzle head height, nozzle diameter, and flow rate are discussed. With nozzle diameters between 0.4 and 0.6mm, extraction efficiency is estimated from 0.77 to 0.96 at the falling height of 0.5m, with flow rate between 0.2 and 1.0kg/s. The device has a height of 1.6m, within the external dimensions of the HCLL Test Blanket Module (TBM), and no additional pumping power is required. The attained results are considered attractive not only for ITER, but also in view of the application of the VST concept as a candidate tritium extraction system for the European Union's demonstration fusion reactor (DEMO). The extraction efficiency of a single droplet column, which is the basis of the design analysis presented, has been validated experimentally with hydrogen. However, further experiments are required on an integrated system with size relevant to the proposed HCLL-TBS design to validate system-level effects, particularly regarding the desorption process in an array of multiple droplets.

Quantification of Dominating Factors in Tritium Permeation in PbLi Blankets

In this paper the problem of tritium transport in PbLi (Lead-Lithium) blankets has been studied and analyzed by means of our recently developed computational models. Several simulations are performed by incorporating the geometric configurations of the PbLi blankets including both DCLL (Dual Coolant Lead Lithium) and HCLL (Helium Cooled Lead Lithium) blankets. Tritium permeation loss percentage from the HCLL concept is about one order of magnitude higher than from the DCLL concept (~ 17%. vs. 1.2%). Sensitivity study also shows that the most relevant factors on tritium permeation are: 1) the level of tritium solubility in PbLi, 2) the gap velocity of the liquid metal in a DCLL blanket, 3) Hartmann number, and 4) the FCI (Flow Channel Insert) electrical conductivity.

Model improvements for tritium transport in DEMO fuel cycle

DEMO operation requires a large amount of tritium, which is directly produced inside the reactor by means of Li-based breeders. During its production, recovering and purification, tritium comes in contact with large surfaces of hot metallic walls, therefore it can permeate through the blanket cooling structure, reach the steam generator and finally the environment.The development of dedicated simulation tools able to predict tritium losses and inventories is necessary to verify the accomplishment of the accepted tritium environmental releases as well as to guarantee a correct machine operation.In this work, the FUS-TPC code is improved by including the possibility to operate in pulsed regime: results in terms of tritium inventory and losses for three pulsed scenarios are shown. Moreover, the development of a 1-D model considering the radial profile of the tritium generation is described. By referring to the inboard segment on the equatorial axis of the helium-cooled lithium–lead (HCLL) blanket, preliminary results of the 1-D model are illustrated: tritium partial pressure in Li–Pb and tritium permeation in the cooling and stiffening plates by assuming several permeation reduction factor (PRF) values. Future improvements will consider the application of the model to all segments of different blanket concepts.

Finalization of the conceptual design of the auxiliary circuits for the European test blanket systems

In view of the ITER conceptual design review, the design of the ancillary systems of the European test blanket systems presented in [1] has been updated and made consistent with the ITER requirements for the present design phase. Europe is developing two concepts of TBM, the helium cooled lithium lead (HCLL) and the helium cooled pebble bed (HCPB) one, having in common the cooling media, pressurized helium at 8MPa [2]. TBS, namely helium cooling system (HCS), coolant purification system (CPS), lead lithium loop and tritium extraction/removal system (TES–TRS) have the purpose to cool down the TBM and to remove tritium to be driven to TEP from breeder and coolant. These systems are placed in port cell 16 (PC#16), chemical and volume control system (CVCS) area and tritium building. Starting from the pre-conceptual design developed in the past, more mature technical interfaces with the ITER facility have been consolidated and iterative design activities were performed to comply with design requirements/specifications requested by IO to conclude the conceptual design phase.In this paper the present status of design of the TBS is presented together with the preliminary integration in ITER areas.

Tritium Processing for the European Test Blanket Systems: Current Status of the Design and Development Strategy

Tritium processing technologies of the two European Test Blanket Systems (TBS), HCLL (Helium Cooled Lithium Lead) and HCPB (Helium Cooled Pebble Bed), play an essential role in meeting the main objectives of the TBS experimental campaign in ITER.The compliancy with the ITER interface requirements, in terms of space availability, service fluids, limits on tritium release, constraints on maintenance, is driving the design of the TBS tritium processing systems. Other requirements come from the characteristics of the relevant TBM and the scientific programme that has to be developed and implemented.This paper identifies the main requirements for the design of the TBS tritium systems and equipment and, at the same time, provides an updated overview on the current design status, mainly focusing onto the tritium extractor from Pb-16Li and TBS tritium accountancy. Considerations are also given on the possible extrapolation to DEMO breeding blanket.

Neutronics requirements for a DEMO fusion power plant

This paper addresses the neutronic requirements a DEMO fusion power plant needs to fulfil for a reliable and safe operation. The major requirement is to ensure Tritium self-sufficiency taking into account the various uncertainties and plant-internal losses that occur during DEMO operation. A further major requirement is to ensure sufficient protection of the superconducting magnets against the radiation penetrating in-vessel components and vessel. Reliable criteria for the radiation loads need to be defined and verified to ensure the reliable operation of the magnets over the lifetime of DEMO. Other issues include radiation induced effects on structural materials such as the accumulated displacement damage, the generation of gases such as helium which may deteriorate the material performance. The paper discusses these issues and their impact on design options for DEMO taking into account results obtained in the frame of European Power Plant Physics and Technology (PPPT) 2013 programme activities with DEMO models employing the helium cooled pebble bed (HCPB), the helium cooled lithium lead (HCLL), and the water-cooled (WCLL) blanket concepts.

Preliminary piping layout and integration of European test blanket modules subsystems in ITER CVCS area

This paper explores a possible integration of some ancillary systems of helium-cooled lithium lead (HCLL) and helium-cooled pebble-bed (HCPB) test blanket modules in ITER CVCS area. Computer-aided design and ergonomics simulation tools have been fundamental not only to define suitable routes for pipes, but also to quickly check for maintainability of equipment and in-line components. In particular, accessibility of equipment and systems has been investigated from the very first stages of the design using digital human models. In some cases, the digital simulations have resulted in changes in the initial space reservations.

Status of the EU test blanket systems safety studies

The European joint undertaking for ITER and the development of fusion energy (‘Fusion for Energy’ – F4E) provides the European contributions to the ITER international fusion energy research project. Among others it includes also the development, design, technological demonstration and implementation of the European test blanket systems (TBS) in ITER. Currently two EU TBS designs are in the phase of conceptual design – helium-cooled lithium-lead (HCLL) and helium-cooled pebble-bed (HCPB). Safety demonstration is an important part of the work devoted to the achievement of the next key project milestone the conceptual design review. The paper reveals the details of the work on EU TBS safety performed in the last couple of years: update of the TBS safety demonstration files; safety functions and related design features; detailed TBS components classifications; nuclear analyses, radiation shielding and protection; TBS radiological waste management strategy and categorization; selection and definition of reference accidents scenarios, and accidents analyses. Finally the authors share the information on on-going and planned future EU TBS safety activities.

Supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles for DEMO fusion reactor based on Helium Cooled Lithium Lead blanket

Fusion energy is one of the most promising solutions to the world energy supply. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the suitability of supercritical CO2 Brayton power cycles (S-CO2) for low-temperature divertor fusion reactors cooled by helium (as defined by EFDA). Integration of three thermal sources (i.e., blanket, divertor and vacuum vessel) has been studied through proposing and analyzing a number of alternative layouts, achieving an improvement on power production higher than 5% over the baseline case, which entails to a gross efficiency (before self-consumptions) higher than 42%. In spite of this achievement, the assessment of power consumption for the circulating heat transfer fluids results in a penalty of 20% in the electricity production. Once the most suitable layout has been selected an optimization process has been conducted to adjust the key parameters to balance performance and size, achieving an electrical efficiency (electricity without taking into account auxiliary consumptions due to operation of the fusion reactor) higher than 33% and a reduction in overall size of heat exchangers of 1/3. Some relevant conclusions can be drawn from the present work: the potential of S-CO2 cycles as suitable converters of thermal energy to power in fusion reactors; the significance of a suitable integration of thermal sources to maximize power output; the high penalty of pumping power; and the convenience of identifying the key components of the layout as a way to optimize the whole cycle performance.

Tritium transport calculations for the IFMIF Tritium Release Test Module

The IFMIF Tritium Release Test Module (TRTM) is projected to measure online the tritium release from breeder ceramics and beryllium pebble beds under high energy neutron irradiation. Tritium produced in the pebble bed of TRTM is swept out continuously by a purge gas flow, but can also permeate into the module's metal structures, and can be lost by permeation to the environment. According analyses on the tritium inventory are performed to support IFMIF plant safety studies, and to support the experiment planning. This paper describes the necessary elements for calculation of the tritium transport in the Tritium Release Test Module as follows: (i) applied equations for the tritium balance, (ii) material data from literature and (iii) the topological models and the computation of the five different cases; namely release of tritium from the breeder solid material into the purge gas, loss of tritium over the capsule wall, rig hull, container wall and purge gas return line in detail. The problem of tritium transport in the TRTM has been studied and analyzed by the Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP) and the adapted fusion-devoted Tritium Permeation Code (FUS-TPC). TMAP has been developed at INEEL and now exists in Version 7. FUS-TPC Code was written in MATLAB with the original purpose to study the tritium transport in Helium Cooled Lead Lithium (HCLL) blanket and in a later version the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) blanket by [6] (Franza, 2012). This code has been further modified to be applicable to the TRTM. Results from the computations for the five computational cases concerning safety and experiment analyses are presented.

Tritium Transport Issues for Helium-Cooled Breeding Blankets

Tritium mobility through breeding blanket (BB) and steam generator heat transfer areas is a crucial aspect for the design of the next generation DEMO fusion power plants. Tritium is generated inside the breeder, dissolves in and permeates through materials, thus leading to a potential hazard for the environment. For this reason, it is important to carry out the tritium migration analysis for a specific DEMO blanket configuration to predict the released amount of tritium during the plant operation. Unfortunately, tritium assessments are often affected by several uncertainties implying very important modeling and parametric issues. In this paper, the main permeation issues are identified and possible solutions are discussed to address the modeling issues and the parametric uncertainties affecting the T migration assessments for the two DEMO helium-cooled BBs: 1) helium-cooled pebble beds and 2) helium-cooled lithium-lead. For these two helium-cooled blanket concepts various tritium migration analyses will be carried out by means of the computational tool FUS-TPC to define proper and feasible tritium mitigation techniques, which are needed to keep the tritium losses lower than the allowable environmental release (i.e., 20 Ci/d).

The engineering sizing of the packed desorption column of hydrogen isotopes from Pb–17Li eutectic alloy. A rate based model using experimental mass transfer coefficients from a Melodie loop

The model of the desorption of hydrogen isotopes from lead lithium alloy in a packed column is derived from the first principles using the plug flow in the liquid phase either the plug flow or ideal mixing in the gas phases. Sievert's law of non-linear equilibrium is followed. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa and its dependence on the liquid metal flow rate are evaluated on the basis of the Melodie loop experiments.The presented model is used for evaluation of the minimum flow rate of the purge gas for which the concentration of the isotope in the gas leaving the column is at its highest, while the driving force of the interfacial transport of the isotope is still not reduced and the tritium desorption efficiency is therefore retained. The potential effect of the axial dispersion in the gas and liquid phase is evaluated. Highlighted are the issues of the optimum packing geometric surface area, above which the efficiency starts to decrease, and of the role of the surface tension and the contact angle with regard to the wettability of the packing. On the basis of the findings related to these factors, the Mellapak 500Y and Mellapak packings with flat surfaces are recommended for the tests aiming to intensify the tritium desorption efficiency in the packed columns. The models were used for the engineering sizing of the packed columns in two breeding blanket concepts for the DEMO plant – utilizing DCLL (dual coolant lead lithium) and HCLL (helium cooled lithium lead).

Tritium management and anti-permeation strategies for three different breeding blanket options foreseen for the European Power Plant Physics and Technology Demonstration reactor study

In DT fusion reactors like DEMO, the commonly accepted tritium (T) losses through the steam generator (SG) shall not exceed about 2mg/d that are more than 5 orders of magnitude lower than the T production rate of about 360g/d in the breeding blanket (BB). A very effective mitigation strategy is required balancing the size and efficiency of the processes in the breeding and cooling loops, and the availability and efficiency of anti-permeation barriers. A numerical study is presented using the T permeation code FUS-TPC that computes all T flows and inventories considering the design and operation of the BB, the SG, and the T systems. Many scenarios are numerically analyzed for three breeding blankets concepts – helium cooled pebbles bed (HCPB), helium cooled lithium lead (HCLL), and water cooled lithium lead (WCLL) – varying the T processes throughput and efficiency, and the permeation regimes through the BB and SG to be either surface-limited or diffusion-limited with possible permeation reduction factor. For each BB concept, we discuss workable operation scenarios and suggest specific anti-permeation strategies.

Development of the breeding blanket and shield model for the fusion power reactors system SYCOMORE

SYCOMORE, a fusion reactor system code based on a modular approach is under development at CEA. Within this framework, this paper describes the relevant sub-modules which have been implemented to model the main outputs of the breeding blanket and shield block of the system code: tritium breeding ratio, peak energy deposition in toroidal field coils, reactor layout and power deposition, blanket pressure drops and materials inventory.Blanket and shield requirements are calculated by several sub-modules: the blanket assembly and layout sub-module, the neutronic sub-module, the blanket design sub-module (thermal hydraulic and thermo-mechanic pre-design tool). A power flow module has also been developed which is directly linked to the blanket thermo-dynamic performances, which is not described in this paper.For the blanket assembly and layout and the blanket module design sub-modules, explicit analytic models have been developed and implemented; for the neutronic sub-module neural networks that replicate the results of appropriate simplified 1D and 2D neutronic simulations have been built. Presently, relevant model for the Helium Cooled Lithium Lead is available.Sub-modules have been built in a way that they can run separately or coupled into the breeding blanket and shield module in order to be integrated in SYCOMORE.In the paper, the objective and main input/output parameters of each sub-module are reported and relevant models discussed. The application to previous studied reactor models (PPCS model AB, DEMO-HCLL 2006–2007 studies) is also presented.

Buoyant-MHD Flows in HCLL Blankets Caused by Spatially Varying Thermal Loads

In the helium-cooled lead lithium (HCLL) blanket concept convective phenomena caused by nonuniform thermal conditions due to bulk neutron volumetric heating can occur. Buoyancy can become very important and modify the velocity distribution and related heat transfer performance of the blanket. A numerical study has been performed to investigate liquid metal flows driven by buoyant forces in a breeder unit (BU) of a HCLL test blanket module (TBM) under the influence of intense uniform magnetic fields. According to the last design review, two internal cooling plates subdivide the fluid domain into three slender flow regions, which are thermally and electrically coupled through common walls. First, a uniform volumetric heat source is considered to identify the basic convective patterns that establish in the liquid metal. Results are then compared with those obtained by applying a realistic radial distribution of the power density as obtained from a neutronic analysis. This paper summarizes the main effects of spatial gradients of a neutron thermal load on velocity and temperature distribution in magnetohydrodynamic flows in a BU of a HCLL TBM.

Production of different eutectic Pb–Li alloys in Spain

The development of the ITER “The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor”, whose objective is to produce energy and to test the tritium self-sufficiency for future fusion reactors, has promote the study of Pb–Li eutectic alloy. This alloy has been selected for the manufacture of HCLL (Helium Cooled Lithium Lead) – TBM (Test Blanket Modules). However, during the manufacturing process of the Pb–Li alloys, a loss of Li occurs and the formation of eutectic structures is inhibited. The present paper analyses the melting from Pb and pure Li, to obtain Pb–Li with 17at.% in Li (eutectic alloy). For this purpose, different parameters to control the process were evaluated, such as temperature, period of melting and at.% in Li. Cast alloys were characterized analytically and microstructurally, which implies the determination of the compositional distribution of Li in the ingot and the phases and the microsegregation involved. The work presents the optimal conditions for the melting process as selected output for the production of Pb–Li eutectic alloys.