Blanket material and technology developments toward DEMO under the Broader Approach framework

Abstract In the Broader Approach (BA) framework, research and development on blanket related materials and technologies have been carried out between the EU and Japan. Those activities are implemented mainly at the Rokkasho BA site in collaboration with universities in Japan. In the R&D on SiCf/SiC composites for an advanced blanket material, mechanical properties of chemically vapor infiltrated (CVI) SiCf/SiC composites have been obtained in high temperature vacuum environment up to 1000 °C. As to R&D on the tritium technology, tritium retention of the fine-grained re-crystallized tungsten has been evaluated. On reduced activation of ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels as the blanket structural material, a 20-ton heat of the F82H RAFM steel has been successfully produced in an electric arc furnace. Advanced neutron multiplier pebbles of beryllide (beryllium–titanium alloy) have been fabricated using a dedicated rotating electrode apparatus followed by annealing from the beryllide rod produced with the plasma sintering method. Also advanced tritium breeder pebbles of lithium-rich lithium titanate have been fabricated by an emulsion method, where the grain size, confirmed by SEM, was less than 5 μm. Tritium recovery tests of advanced tritium breeder pebbles will be investigated under 14 MeV neutron irradiation as one of the new activities.

[1]  Masaru Nakamichi,et al.  Homogenization treatment to stabilize the compositional structure of beryllide pebbles , 2013 .

[2]  Tsuyoshi Hoshino,et al.  Development of fabrication technologies for advanced breeding functional materials For DEMO reactors , 2012 .

[3]  Shinzaburo Matsuda,et al.  The EU/JA broader approach activities , 2007 .

[4]  Takayuki Terai,et al.  New synthesis method of advanced lithium titanate with Li4TiO4 additives for ITER-TBM , 2009 .

[5]  H. Miura,et al.  Improved tokamak concept focusing on easy maintenance , 1998 .

[6]  Masaru Nakamichi,et al.  Sintering properties of beryllides for advanced neutron multipliers , 2011 .

[7]  T. Muroga,et al.  Electrical insulating property of ceramic coating materials in radiation and high-temperature environment , 2007 .

[8]  Akira Kohyama,et al.  Recent progress in blanket materials development in the Broader Approach activities , 2011 .

[9]  J.-F. Salavy,et al.  HCLL TBM design status and development , 2011 .

[10]  Takashi Nozawa,et al.  Fusion materials development program in the broader approach activities , 2009 .

[11]  Masayoshi Kawai,et al.  Development of re-crystallized W–1.1%TiC with enhanced room-temperature ductility and radiation performance , 2010 .

[12]  Masayoshi Sugimoto,et al.  Overview of Materials Research and IFMIF/EVEDA under the Broader Approach Framework , 2012 .

[13]  Masayoshi Sugimoto,et al.  Progress of fusion nuclear technologies in the broader approach framework , 2012 .

[14]  Chikara Konno,et al.  Effect of sweep gas species on tritium release behavior from lithium titanate packed bed during 14 MeV neutron irradiation , 2012 .