Optimization of thermal design for nitrogen shield of JET cryopump

The reference design of JET cryopump nitrogen shield consists of an outer section made of copper chevrons fastened to two cooling tubes and an inner stainless steel section and backing plate with two cooling tubes. These tubes are fed in a parallel flow arrangement. The inlet flow is divided into two parallel paths so that both tubes on either section are always at the same temperature. This arrangement was selected due to concern about conduction between warm and cold parts of the shield during cooldown transients. If the heat loads are unequal, such a parallel flow arrangement can result in flow starvation in the path with higher heat load. This will cause large temperature differences and, ultimately, structural failure. Hence, an analysis was undertaken to investigate the conduction effects in the shield for other flow arrangements. 4 refs., 8 figs

Infrared thermography system on DIII-D

Six infrared cameras measure temperature changes on the protective graphite armor inside the DIII-D vacuum vessel. Simultaneous time dependent temperature measurements are made on armor tiles located on the centerpost and divertor regions, and on both outboard limiters. The nearly-complete poloidal coverage is useful in measuring both the plasma heat flux distributions inside the vessel and the plasma power balance. Spatial resolution of each camera system is {approx lt}1 cm, while the minimum resolvable time is 125 {mu}sec. Data from the IR TV systems is recorded on video tape, and is post-processed serially, using an image processor with an AT-compatible microcomputer. The processing system controls all VCRs, interprets DIII-D timing pulses, digitizes video data in the pre-determined regions of interest, averages digitized signals to reduce noise, and constructs data files which are then stored as part of the permanent shot record

The design and fabrication of a toroidally continuous cryocondensation pump for the DIII-D Advanced Divertor

A cryocondensation pump will be installed in the baffle chamber of the DIII-D tokamak in the spring of 1992. The design is complete and fabrication of this pump is in progress. The purpose of the pump is to study plasma density control by pumping the divertor. The pump is toroidally continuous, approximately 10 m long, in the lower outer corner of the vacuum vessel interior. It consists of a 1 m{sup 2} liquid helium cooled surface surrounded by a liquid nitrogen cooled shield to limit the heat load on the helium cooled surface. The stainless steel liquid nitrogen shell has a copper coating on it to enhance thermal conductivity, but the coating is broken to keep the toroidal electrical resistance high. The liquid nitrogen cooled surface is surrounded by a radiation/particle shield to prevent energetic particles from impacting and releasing condensed water molecules. The whole pump is supported off the water cooled vacuum vessel wall. Key design considerations were: how to accommodate the temperature differences between the various components, developing low heat leak paths for the various supports, and maintaining electrical insulation in a low pressure environment in the presence of induced voltage spikes. A single point ground for the system was used to limit disruption induced currents and the resulting electro-mechanical forces on the pump. A testing program was used to develop coating techniques to enhance heat transfer and emissivity of the various surfaces. Fabrication tests were done to determine the best method of attaching the liquid nitrogen flow tubes to their shield surfaces. A prototype sector of the pump was built to verify fabrication and assembly techniques

Design of the advanced divertor pump cryogenic system for DIII-D

The design of the cryogenic system for the D3-D advanced divertor cryocondensation pump is presented. The advanced divertor incorporates a baffle chamber and bias ring located near the bottom of the D3-D vacuum vessel. A 50,000 l/s cryocondensation pump will be installed underneath the baffle for plasma particle exhaust. The pump consists of a liquid helium cooled tube operating at 4.3{degrees}K and a liquid nitrogen cooled radiation shield. Liquid helium is fed by forced flow through the cryopump. Compressed helium gas flowing through the high pressure side of a heat exchanger is regeneratively cooled by the two-phase helium leaving the pump. The cooled high pressure gaseous helium is than liquefied by a Joule-Thomson expansion valve. The liquid is returned to a storage dewar. The liquid nitrogen for the radiation shield is supplied by forced flow from a bulk storage system. Control of the cryogenic system is accomplished by a programmable logic controller

Fusion transmutation of waste: design and analysis of the in-zinerator concept.

Due to increasing concerns over the buildup of long-lived transuranic isotopes in spent nuclear fuel waste, attention has been given in recent years to technologies that can burn up these species. The separation and transmutation of transuranics is part of a solution to decreasing the volume and heat load of nuclear waste significantly to increase the repository capacity. A fusion neutron source can be used for transmutation as an alternative to fast reactor systems. Sandia National Laboratories is investigating the use of a Z-Pinch fusion driver for this application. This report summarizes the initial design and engineering issues of this ''In-Zinerator'' concept. Relatively modest fusion requirements on the order of 20 MW can be used to drive a sub-critical, actinide-bearing, fluid blanket. The fluid fuel eliminates the need for expensive fuel fabrication and allows for continuous refueling and removal of fission products. This reactor has the capability of burning up 1,280 kg of actinides per year while at the same time producing 3,000 MWth. The report discusses the baseline design, engineering issues, modeling results, safety issues, and fuel cycle impact

GENI Program

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy project sheet summarizing general information about the Green Electricity Network Integration (GENI) program including critical needs, innovation and advantages, impacts, and contact information. This sheet discusses the development of a direct current circuit breaker as part of the "Magnetically Pulsed Hybrid Breaker for HVDC Power Distribution Protection" project