Technological Processes for Steel Applications in Nuclear Fusion

Autor: Michael Rieth, Michael Dürrschnabel, Simon Bonk, Ute Jäntsch, Thomas Bergfeldt, Jan Hoffmann, Steffen Antusch, Esther Simondon, Michael Klimenkov, Carsten Bonnekoh, Bradut-Eugen Ghidersa, Heiko Neuberger, Jörg Rey, Christian Zeile, Gerald Pintsuk, Giacomo Aiello
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Applied Sciences, Vol 11, Iss 24, p 11653 (2021)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2076-3417
DOI: 10.3390/app112411653
Popis: Plasma facing components for energy conversion in future nuclear fusion reactors require a broad variety of different fabrication processes. We present, along a series of studies, the general effects and the mutual impact of these processes on the properties of the EUROFER97 steel. We also consider robust fabrication routes, which fit the demands for industrial environments. This includes heat treatment, fusion welding, machining, and solid-state bonding. Introducing and following a new design strategy, we apply the results to the fabrication of a first-wall mock-up, using the same production steps and processes as for real components. Finally, we perform high heat flux tests in the Helium Loop Karlsruhe, applying a few hundred short pulses, in which the maximum operating temperature of 550 °C for EUROFER97 is finally exceeded by 100 K. Microstructure analyses do not reveal critical defects or recognizable damage. A distinct ferrite zone at the EUROFER/ODS steel interface is detected. The main conclusions are that future breeding blankets can be successfully fabricated by available industrial processes. The use of ODS steel could make a decisive difference in the performance of breeding blankets, and the first wall should be completely fabricated from ODS steel or plated by an ODS carbon steel.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals