1 |
UKAEAH3AT – Tritium Advanced Technology
Fusion TechnologyStephen Wheeler - Director of Fusion Technology
March 2021
2 | 2
Tritium & the Fusion Power Plant
Safety
Tritium & HTO safety and toxicity,
Reducing tritium inventories and source
terms, Application of ALARP/ALARA
Supply Tritium Sources
Breeding
ConfinementTritium Permeation, Radiolysis,
Helium production, Effect on
materials and components
Fuel CycleTritium processing and purification, Isotopic
separation, Trace tritium recovery, Storage and
transportation, Pumping and vacuum systems,
Injection of fuel into hot plasmas
Knowledge SharingCollaborations with National Labs,
Academia and UK Industry
Waste Management
Detritiation,
Waste minimization,
Recycling technologies
AccountancyControl,
Accountancy,
Licensing, Duel use
Decommissioning
Safe, Fast, Low cost
3 |3
4 |
5 |
H3AT – A unique tritium research facility for the UK
• Process pilot plant demonstrating the ITER fuel cycle at 1/20th
scale.
• A fusion relevant 100g tritium inventory.
• A closed loop system allowing testing and validation
• Facility for hosting tritium research, with individual experiments
up to 10s of grammes of tritium, with collaborative and
commercial access
• Development of new tritium analytical techniques
• Exploration of the fundamental science of tritium interactions
• Skills development, including classrooms and training facilities
• Development and testing of novel detritiation techniques
6 |
• Isotope Separation System (ISS)
• Storage and Distribution (SDS)
• Torus Vacuum Simulation (TVS)
• Hydrogen Purification System (HPS)
• Atmospheric Detritiation System (ADS)
• Analytical System (ANS)
• Radiological Gas Monitoring System (RGM)
• Water Detritiation System (WDS)
H3AT Facility Sub Systems
6
7 |
2021
ISOTOPE SEPARATION SYSTEMFind a Tender / Innovation Partnership
Multiple Tenders for Long Lead Time Developmental ItemsFind a Tender / Contracts Finder
• Pumps
• Permeators
• Molecular sieves
• Recombiners
• Electrolysers
• Micro Gas Chromatographs
• Laser Raman analysers
Multiple Tenders for Long Lead Time Standard EquipmentFind a Tender / Contracts Finder
• Heat exchangers
• Heaters
• Pressure and vacuum vessels
Tender for Skids D&BFind a Tender
COTS FrameworkFind a Tender
• Valves
• In-line strainers
• Instruments
• Pumps
• Vessels
H3AT - Procurement Timeline
2022
JAN APR JUL OCT JAN
PIN
ITT
PIN
ITT
PIN
ITT
PIN
ITT
PIN
ITT
8 |
• Fusion fuel cycle design
• DEMO pre-conceptual design
• STEP
• Materials experiments
• Anti-permeation coatings• First wall tritium retention• Isotope separation• Tritium in materials modelling
• ITER support
• Design of tritium breeding module accountancy system
• Coolant processing and activated corrosion products• Palladium membrane reactor support
• Engineering studies
• Tritium compatible components
• Tritium Analytics• Process control• Safety• Inventory
Tritium Innovation – Current Activities
8
9 |
1. Materials Detritiation Facility
• Reducing waste classification to
reduce cost and burden on UK
radioactive waste disposal sites
2. Tritium Analysis Lab’s
• Characterising fusion waste and
providing data to validate new
treatment techniques
3. Plastic Fabrication Workshop
• Developing and commercialising
novel tritium and alpha
containment solutions
4. Beryllium Handling Facility
• Supporting JET but akin to ITER
Hot Cell
Waste Innovation UnitWIU’s world leading facilities providing research and support to national and
international fusion and fission
2 2
31
1
10 |
11 | 11
Applied Radiation Technology
Power Plant Technology
Special Techniques Group
Applied Materials Technology
Manufacturing Technology and Qualification
Engineering Realisation
Technical Consultancy
12 |12
13 |
14 |
15 |
| Official - Sensitive - Commercial 16
Combined Loads Testing Facility
Component Size 1.7m x 0.5m x 0.7m
Testing
EnvironmentVacuum or inert gas
Water Cooling 200°C, 15 bar – 385°C, 155 bar
Surface Heating 0.5 MW/m2 over 1m2
Simulated
Volume HeatingUp to 100 kW
Static Magnetic
Field4 Tesla
Magnetic
ImpulsedB/dT ~12 T/s
Static Magnet
Split pair LHe superconducting
magnets
with NbTi conductor
Pulsed Magnet Water cooled copper conductor
CHIMERA
|
Q1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1Q4…
…
Building Handover
Furnished
Magnet
Delivery
Q2
2021 20222020
Commencing installation
of CHIMERA CHIMERA Operational
|
SmalLab-Fluids
Official - Sensitive - Commercial 18
Small-scale testing of isolated single-phase water flow
phenomenaMajor Procurement Items
Purpose Configuration
Timeframe
• To provide high resolution experimental data for
V&V of state-of-the-art thermal hydraulics codes
and turbulence models
• To develop capability in experimental
design and diagnostics operation
• Basic flow loop supplying classical thermal
hydraulic test pieces plus additional geometrical
complexity e.g. turbulence enhancers
Example: Vertical 2D slot, heated by
∆𝑇 at the left boundary with increasing
turbulence. Requires transparent flow
slot with high optical access
Pipework, pumps, valves etc.
Test pieces
Velocimetry system
Flow, temperature, pressure controllers
Heating and cooling units
May
2021July
2021
October
2021Present
Design ProcureInstall/ Commission Operate
| Official - Sensitive - Commercial 19
SmalLab
Small-scale testing of isolated single-phase
water flow phenomena
Atmospheric conditions; high resolution diagnostic
capability
Large-scale single and multi-phase water flows
Prototypical reactor conditions; LWR
phenomena including conjugate heat transfer,
flow-induced vibration, and natural convection
CHIMERA
Component-scale single phase water flows
Prototypical reactor conditions; Combined fusion loads, including
electromagnetic effects;
Thermal Hydraulic Facilities at UKAEA Yorkshire
|
SmalLab
Small-scale testing of isolated
single-phase water flow
phenomena
Large-scale single and multi-phase
water flows
CHIMERA
Component-scale single phase water flows
Typical Facility Parameters
Official - Sensitive - Commercial 20
* P, T & flow
parameters for
water conditions
only
Coolant(s) Water Water Water [+ LiPb tba]
Power Input ~1 kW 250 kW 600 kW
Pressure Atm. 15.5 MPa 15.5 MPa
Temperature < 50 °C 328 °C 328 °C
Flow Rate < 0.1 kg/s 3.5 kg/s 10.8 kg/s
|
Large-scale single and multi-
phase water flows
Proposed future facility
Official - Sensitive - Commercial 21
Purpose Configuration
Timeframe – tbc
• To provide high-resolution data to enhance
understanding of key thermal hydraulic phenomena
relevant to LWR reactor conditions
• To use this understanding to reduce the
reliance on penalising safety margins in
modern reactor design
• Vertical power channel of ~3x3 rod bundle diameter with
optical access for PIV system
Detailed engineering design
Bespoke power channel test piece
High-pressure pipework, pumps, valves etc.
Velocimetry system and other diagnostics
Flow, temperature, pressure controllers
Heating and cooling units, power supplies
202x 202x202x
Major Procurement Items
• Alternative ambient pressure loop for
teaching and demonstration
• Secondary cooling and control loops
• Closed high pressure loop with elevated cooler for
natural circulation driven flows
202x
Design ProcureInstall/ Commission Operate
|
Cryostat
Procurements
Cryo-cooling plant Spring / Summer 2021
Superconducting Magnet Spring / Summer 2021
Cryo-test chamber Autumn 2021
Installation contract 2022
Prototype component procurement 2022
Cryostat / Magnet Joint Test Facility
22
CryoplantData Acquisition
EquipControl System
Magnet Power Supply
Superconducting Magnet
23 |23
Thank you