Fluid
dynamics and thermal analysis for the ITER ECH Upper Launcher
A. Vaccaro*a,
R. Heidingera, W. Leonhardtb, A. Meiera,
D. Melleinb, T. Scherera, A. Serikovc,
P. Späha, D. Straußa.
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Association FZK-Euratom,
a)
Institute for Materials Research I; b) Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave
Technology; c) Institute for Reactor Safety.
The ECH Upper
Launcher in ITER is a major component contributing to plasma stabilization and thus
has to be available with high performance under severe thermal and mechanical
loads. In fact, being a plasma facing in-vessel component, the loads acting onto
the structure risk to compromise the functionalities.
Behind the
First Wall Panel, the structure of the Blanket Shield Module (BSM) is exposed
to volumetric nuclear heating amounting from 0.2 to 5 MW/m2. A
double wall configuration for the BSM housing and the front region of the main
frame allows homogenous heat extraction by a meandering cooling circuit. Such a
cooling circuit is simulated by coupled fluid dynamic simulation using CFX.
Experimental results obtained in the Launcher Handling Test facility – such as
temperature, pressure and water flow – are used to cross check the simulations.
The BSM is
a complex component, thus experiments are currently performed on a prototype
presenting a limited region only (corner mock-up). A transient cooling experiment
(from ~100°C to room temperature) was performed for thermohydraulic studies. This
scenario was also described by numerical simulation and the modelled results
are validated by comparison with measurements made with thermocouples and
infrared cameras. A good match is found between the simulation and the
experimental results.
In
addition, static analysis was performed, using a simplified set of thermal
loads. By this second scenario, the performances of the cooling circuit during
operation can be investigated.
In general,
the numerical modelling provides a good description of the double wall cooling
structure. With an extension of the model, it is planned to apply to the entire
BSM housing and also to the double wall segment of the main structure.
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This work, supported by the European
Communities, was carried out within the framework of the European Fusion
Training Scheme.
*Corresponding Author:
Alessandro Vaccaro, Forschungszentrum
Karlsruhe, Association FZK-Euratom, Institute for Material Research I, D-76021
Karlsruhe, Germany, email: alessandro.vaccaro@imf.fzk.de;
phone +49 (0) 7247 82-5892, fax:
+49 (0) 7247 82-4567