Page 311 - Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design

Chapter 10

Blanket

Igor R. Kirillov
JSC D.V. Efremov Scientific Research Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus, Saint Petersburg,
Russia

Chapter Outline
10.1 Introduction 291 10.5 ITER Test Blanket Modules 309
10.2 Key Functions and Resulting 10.5.1 Purpose and
Performance Requirements 291 Objectives of the
10.3 Blanket Design Algorithm 296 Test Modules 309
10.4 Blanket Designs 10.5.2 Characteristics of
for Demonstration and Test Blanket Modules 314
Commercial Reactors 299 10.6 Blanket Design Problems 318
10.4.1 Gen-1 Blankets 299 References 320
10.4.2 Prospective Blanket
Concepts 306

10.1 INTRODUCTION
To maintain a fusion reaction, it is necessary to ensure a continuous delivery of
natural deuterium and artificially produced tritium. The initial supply of tritium
can be extracted from fission reactors. However, a future fusion power plant
will be required to breed all of its own tritium. It is exactly what the blanket
is intended for. The blanket covers part of the plasma column occupying up to
85% of the chamber surface. The rest is occupied by the divertor and channels
providing additional heating and access to in-vessel components.

10.2 KEY FUNCTIONS AND RESULTING PERFORMANCE
REQUIREMENTS
The blanket’s principal functions are to

l breed tritium for fuel,
l absorb neutrons and heat from the plasma (if the blanket and the first wall
(FW) are one structure), and sink heat into an energy conversion system, and
l shield the magnetic field coils (together with the vacuum vessel) and the
reactor personnel (together with the bioshielding system) from radiation.
Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102470-6.00010-X
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 291