Preliminary design of the top cap of DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead breeding blanket segments

Abstract

Within the framework of EUROfusion R&D activity, a research campaign has been carried out at the University of Palermo, in close cooperation with ENEA labs, in order to preliminary design the top cap foreseen for the DEMO Water-Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) breeding blanket segments. Due to the high heat and pressure loads acting on such component, its design results particularly demanding and a specific multi-physics approach is needed, covering several aspects from thermal-hydraulics to structural assessments. Preliminary detailed CAD model of the cap integrated into the upper region of the WCLL breeding blanket outboard central segment has been set-up, equipped with proper cooling circuits as well as manifold and attachment systems according to the design of the equatorial elementary cell. A detailed numerical model has been set-up with the aim of simulating the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the above-mentioned system. Finally, the thermo-mechanical response of the upper breeding blanket region has been evaluated in terms of stress and temperature distributions, verifying that the structural material maximum temperature stays below its limit value and that structural integrity is ensured by means of the fulfilment of design rules reported in RCC-MRx structural design code.