Novel composite materials for innovative design of high-heat-flux components of fusion reactors
Novel composite materials for innovative design of high-heat-flux components of fusion reactors
One of the most crucial issues in the nuclear fusion technology is the power exhaust capability of a reactor that is again related to the heat removal capability of the divertor target component. The divertor target consists typically of plasma-facing armour and heat sink. In the case of the water-c...
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Personal Name(s): | You, J.-H. |
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Brendel, A. / Herrmann, A. / Kimmig, S. / Linsmeier, Ch. (Corresponding author) / Riesch, J. / Zivelonghi, A. | |
Contributing Institute: |
Plasmaphysik; IEK-4 |
Imprint: |
2014
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Conference: | The Nuclear Materials Conference, Clearwater Beach (USA), 2014-10-27 - 2014-10-30 |
Document Type: |
Abstract |
Research Program: |
Plasma-Wall-Interaction |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
One of the most crucial issues in the nuclear fusion technology is the power exhaust capability of a reactor that is again related to the heat removal capability of the divertor target component. The divertor target consists typically of plasma-facing armour and heat sink. In the case of the water-cooled ITER divertor, each target element consists of a tungsten monoblock as armour that is joined with a copper alloy cooling tube at the centre as heat sink. For designing a divertor target for a fusion power plant, one is reliant on novel materials with properties of much enhanced performance since the operational environment will be much harsher and thus the expected loading conditions can hardly be met with the currently available materials. In this context, one has to consider multiple facets of materials requirements, namely, in terms of mechanical, thermal and physical properties in order to design and develop advanced materials. Composite materials are considered favoured candidates as they allow different kinds of desired properties to be combined in a material which are otherwise seldom found together in a conventional material. Since a decade the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics has been developing several composite materials for application to both armour and heat sink of the DEMO divertor target. Examples are tungsten wire-reinforced tungsten composite, tungsten wire-reinforced copper composite, SiC fibre-reinforced copper composite and tungsten-copper composites. After extensive research efforts on processing, thermo-mechanical testing and microscopic characterization it turned out that the composites have huge potential to significantly enhance the structural performance of the target even for higher heat flux loads, coolant temperature and irradiation doses. In this contribution the overview of recent R&D activities and the summary of the key results are presented. Emphasis is placed on the metallurgical feasibility, achieved performance and materials -design (mechanics) interface. |