Exploration of a Fast Pathway to Nuclear Fusion: Thermal Analysis and Cooling Design Considerations for the ARC Reactor
Name
Segantin - Exploration of a fast pathway to nuclear fusion thermal analysis and cooling design considerations for the ARC reactor.pdf
Description
Accepted version
Size
1.37 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
4c1f5908223832835c4dbe01d6fdc77f
Author(s)
Hartwig, Zachary Seth
Whyte, Dennis G
Zucchetti, Massimo
Date Issued
January 2020
Journal
Fusion Science and Technology
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Citation
Segantin, S. et al. “Fusion Science and Technology.” Fusion Science and Technology, 76, 1 (January 2020): 45-52 © 2020 The Author(s)
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Progress in technological fields such as high-temperature superconductors, additive manufacturing, and innovative materials has led to new scenarios and to a second generation of fusion reactor designs. The new Affordable Robust Compact (ARC) fusion reactor, which compared to other designs meets its goal to achieve fusion energy in a less expensive, smaller but even more powerful, faster way, has been designed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In order to define ARC’s role in future electricity grids, a feasibility investigation of the load-following concept has been carried out, starting on ARC’s vacuum vessel (VV), which is the component closest to the plasma. Finite element analysis models have been designed, and thermomechanical analyses have been conducted. In this framework thermal fatigue and creep remain the main issues. This study identifies and verifies a suitable temperature range for the VV coolant. Indeed, it is found to satisfy both requirements for the lifetime of the structural material and thermodynamic efficiency optimization.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2019.1629252
