Requirements for a helium-cooled blanket heat removal system development facility for fusion reactor research

Existing and potential design problems associated with the helium-cooled blanket assemblies of experimental, demonstration and hybrid reactor designs considered in the Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Program were assessed. It was observed that a balanced program of design, analysis and experimentation would be required to develop, verify and qualify these designs and those of related hardware and equipment. To respond to the potential experimental requirements of the first-generation reactors (the EPRs and possibly the hybrid concept), the need for a helium test facility was identified. It was determined that this facility should have the capacity for recirculating 100,000 kg/hr of helium at 70 atm and 6000C and should have 3 MW of electrical power available for simulating neutron heating. No radioactive material or processes should be used to facilitate ''hands-on'' experimentation and development. The general types of testing anticipated in this facility would include: (1) thermal and coolant flow performance of the blanket and other components in the primary cooling circuit; (2) structural adequacy of the blanket and first wall including vibration considerations; (3) capability for accommodating safety/off-normal conditions. Existing facilities worldwide were surveyed. It was determined that a number of facilities exist in foreign nations for performing the anticipated experiments. However, no large helium gas flow loop exists within the USA. Consequently, it is recommended that a helium thermal-hydraulic blanket test facility be planned and build on a schedule that will meet the unique design development and verification needs of the fusion program. This report provides the rationale and preliminary scoping of the operational characteristics and requirements for such a facility