Steady state hydrogen transport in solids exposed to fusion reactor plasmas. Pt. 1

A simple analytical transport parameter formalism is presented for evaluating the steady state hydrogen (tritium) inventory, recycle rate, and permeation rate for surfaces exposed to the plasma of an operating magnetic confinement fusion reactor. The formalism includes hydrogen trapping, recombination barriers to release at inner and outer surfaces, diffusion, and effects of thermal gradients (e.g., Ludwig-Soret effect). The transport parameter concept results in a natural classification of the transport behavior of hydrogen in all materials at temperatures for which the solutionized hydrogen is mobile. The analytical results provide physical insight into the processes governing hydrogen permeation and inventory and also allow simple checks on the accuracy of numerical calculations which must be used at early times in the buildup to steady state operation. (orig.)