Heat-Absorbing Capacity of High-Heat-Flux Components in Nuclear Fusion Reactors

Namkyu Lee, Beom Seok Kim, Hokyu Moon, Joon-Soo Lim and Hyung Hee Cho
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Namkyu Lee: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
Beom Seok Kim: National Fusion Research Institute (NFRI), 169-148 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, Korea
Hokyu Moon: National Fusion Research Institute (NFRI), 169-148 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34133, Korea
Joon-Soo Lim: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
Hyung Hee Cho: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Nuclear fusion energy is a solution to the substitution of fossil fuels and the global energy deficit. However, among the several problems encountered for realizing a nuclear fusion reactor, the divertor presents difficulties due to the tremendous heat flux (~10 MW/m 2 ) from high-temperature plasma. Also, neutrons produce additional heat (~17.5 MW/m 3 ) from collisions with the materials’ atoms. This may lead to unexpected effects such as thermal failure. Thus, a comprehensive investigation on the divertor module is needed to determine the heat-absorbing capacity of the divertor module so to maintain the effect of incident heat flux. In this study, using an analytical approach and a simulation, the quantitative effect of heat generation on the thermophysical behavior, such as temperature and thermal stress, was analyzed while maintaining the incident heat flux. Then, a correlated equation was derived from the thermal design criteria, namely, the maximum thimble temperature and the safety factor at the vulnerable point. Finally, on the basis of the thermal design criteria, the heat-absorbing capacity of a nuclear fusion reactor in operating conditions was determined. This study contributes to the understanding of the divertor’s effects in nuclear fusion reactors for high-heat-flux and high-temperature applications.

Keywords: heat transfer; nuclear fusion; high-heat-flux component; divertor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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