Scientists from the National Nuclear Research University MEPhI proposed a new connection method
Currently under construction in Franceinternational thermonuclear experimental reactor ITER, the next stage on the way to the industrial use of nuclear fusion energy will be the creation of national reactors of a new generation. One of them will be DEMO, which is planned to be built in Russia. Unlike ITER, the new plants will operate at higher power, which means they will need powerful protection.
The protective coating in ITER is made ofchromium-zirconium bronze, in DEMO the load will be much higher than 2 MW / m2, so scientists suggest using heat-resistant steel EK-181. But the main problem is to combine elements of steel and tungsten on the inner wall and the diverter of the future reactor.
Project of the DEMO reactor complex. Image: NRNU MEPhI
Researchers from MEPhI have shown that the use ofsolder TiZr4Be with an intermediate layer of tantalum satisfies the conditions of the future reactor. In the course of the experiments, physicists exposed samples of steel and tungsten, combined with a new solder, to deuterium gas and a plasma discharge (T = 600 ° C). The results showed that after plasma irradiation and gas exposure at a pressure of 1 Pa, an acceptable deuterium concentration was observed, which corresponds to the operating conditions of future thermonuclear devices.
Fusion reactor fuel is a mixtureisotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. In this case, radioactive isotopes can accumulate in the wall materials. In addition to the accumulation of radioactive tritium, from the point of view of safety, there is also the problem of the effect of hydrogen on the walls, which over time makes the material more brittle.
We have taken the first step:created a model of the element of the first wall of a thermonuclear reactor and a divertor and tested it in modes close to those expected in thermonuclear installations. The compound is stable under certain conditions - we have identified its limitations in temperature and pressure of the surrounding gas. Therefore, it is necessary either to continue the search for suitable materials, or to guarantee acceptable operating conditions.
Yuri Gasparyan, Associate Professor, Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
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