Remote servicing considerations for near-term power reactors (The Next Step)

Next-generation tokamaks require special consideration for remote servicing. Three major problems are highlighted: (a) movement of heavy components, (b) remote connection/disconnection of joints, and (c) remote cutting, welding, and leak detection. The first problem is assumed to be handled with existing expertise; it is not considered. The remaining problems are thought to be minimized by considering two engineering departures from conventional tokamak design: (a) locating the field shaping coils outside the toroidal coils, and (b) enclosing the total device within an evacuated reactor cell. Five topics under this vacuum building concept are discussed: incremental cost, vacuum pumping, tritium containment, activation topology, and first-year operations