Low activity blanket designs and heat transfer for experimental power reactors

Two minimum activity blanket designs are described, based on the ANL TEPR circular design parameters. A first wall loading (plasma on) of 1.0 MW(th)/m2 has been assumed. The first option is composed of SAP (sintered aluminum product) modules. The oval shaped SAP shell, in which approximately 45 percent of the fusion energy is removed, is maintained at a temperature of approximately 4000C by a He coolant stream. The remaining 55 percent of the fusion energy is deposited in a thermally insulated hot interior (SiC and B4C) and removed by a separate He coolant, with exit temperature of 8000C. In the second option, the blanket is a thick graphite block structure (approximately 50 cm thickness) with SAP coolant tubes carrying He (50 atm) embedded deep within the graphite to minimize radiation damage. The neutron and gamma energy deposited in the graphite is radiated along internal slots and conducted through the graphite to the coolant tubes. To reduce surface evaporation above 20000C, the blanket surface is radiatively cooled to a low temperature radiation sink, a bank of He cooled SAP tubes. Approximately 20 percent of the fusion energy is removed in this region, the remaining 80 percent in the primary graphite-aluminum blanket. Both blanket options are mounted on heavy Al backing plates, cooled by He, which are in turn supported from the fixed shield