Development of a Steam Generator Mock-Up for EU DEMO Fusion Reactor: Conceptual Design and Code Assessment

Alessandra Vannoni, Pierdomenico Lorusso (), Marica Eboli, Fabio Giannetti, Cristiano Ciurluini, Amelia Tincani, Ranieri Marinari, Andrea Tarallo and Alessandro Del Nevo
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Alessandra Vannoni: Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Roma, Italy
Pierdomenico Lorusso: Department of Fusion and Nuclear Safety Technology (ENEA), 00044 Rome, Italy
Marica Eboli: Department of Fusion and Nuclear Safety Technology (ENEA), Camugnano, 40032 Bologna, Italy
Fabio Giannetti: Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Roma, Italy
Cristiano Ciurluini: Department of Astronautical, Electrical and Energy Engineering (DIAEE), Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Roma, Italy
Amelia Tincani: Department of Fusion and Nuclear Safety Technology (ENEA), Camugnano, 40032 Bologna, Italy
Ranieri Marinari: Department of Fusion and Nuclear Safety Technology (ENEA), Camugnano, 40032 Bologna, Italy
Andrea Tarallo: CREATE Consortium, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Alessandro Del Nevo: Department of Fusion and Nuclear Safety Technology (ENEA), Camugnano, 40032 Bologna, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Recent R&D activities in nuclear fusion have identified the DEMO reactor as the ITER successor, aiming at demonstrating the technical feasibility of fusion plants, along with their commercial exploitation. However, the pulsed operation of the machine causes an “unconventional” operation of the system, posing unique challenges to the functional feasibility of the steam generator, for which it is necessary to define and qualify a reference configuration for DEMO. In order to facilitate the transitions between different operational regimes, the Once Through Steam Generator (OTSG) is considered to be a suitable choice for the DEMO primary heat transfer systems, being characterized by lower thermal inertia with respect to the most common U-tube steam generators. In this framework, the ENEA has undertaken construction of the STEAM facility at Brasimone R.C., aiming at characterizing the behavior of the DEMO OTSG and related water coolant systems in steady-state and transient conditions. A dedicated OTSG mock-up has been conceived and designed, adopting a scaling procedure, keeping the height 1:1 of the DEMO OTSGs. The conceptual design has been supported by RELAP5/Mod3.3 thermal-hydraulic calculations. CFD and FEM codes have been used for fluid-dynamic analyses and mechanical stress analyses, respectively, in specific parts of the component.

Keywords: DEMO; water technologies; STEAM facility; experimental installation; once through steam generator (OTSG); RELAP5 (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: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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