Abstract
High heat fluxes are exchanged in fusion machines (up to 50 MW m−2), thus producing elevated temperature and requiring thermal monitoring and control. The design of a temperature measurement system for the RFX experiment is developed through three-dimensional nonlinear transient finite element simulations of the torus assembly under upgrade from “mod” to “mod2” with enhanced magnetic front-end, vacuum confinement barrier, and first wall. Analyses show how heat fluxes applied at the plasma-facing materials are transmitted, attenuated and delayed, through the machine parts. Results identify the passive stabilising shell as the instrumentable component closest to the plasma boundary able to follow the thermal behaviour by the detection of temperature variations at least of 10 °C during plasma pulses with a response time of about 200 s. Allowable temperature limits of materials are verified simulating a full experimental day with 24 plasma pulses, in particular at the shell supporting rings made of polyamide-imide and at the vessel spacers made of polyether-ether ketone-coated stainless steel. Simulations of the pulse discharge cleaning demonstrated the capability of the system to provide the required power for first wall conditioning (25 kW) and the need to realise a duty cycle (1-h on/3-h off) limiting the average heat flux and the maximum temperature (55 °C) at the vacuum vessel sealing elements in order to minimise differential thermal deformations. Proposed layouts of temperature sensors are able to detect the maximum temperatures expected during operation.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sips ACC, et al. Progress in preparing scenarios for operation of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor. Phys Plasmas. 2015;22:021804.
Federici F, et al. Overview of the design approach and prioritization of R&D activities towards an EU DEMO. FusEng Des. 2016;109–111:1464–74.
Inoue S, et al. Dependence of locked mode behavior on frequency and polarity of a rotating external magnetic perturbation. Plasma Phys Control Fus. 2018;60:025003.
Suri AK, et al. Materials issues in fusion reactors. J PhysConfSer. 2010;208:012001.
Winter J. Wall conditioning in fusion devices and its influence on plasma performance. Plasma Phys Control Fus. 1996;38:1503–42.
Marrelli L, et al. Upgrades of the RFX-mod reversed field pinch and expected scenario improvements. NuclFus. 2019;59:076027.
Cavazzana R, et al. Challenges and solutions in the design of RFX-mod2, a multi configuration magnetic confinement experimental device. 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference IAEA-CN-258. 2018;EX/P8–7:1–8.
Peruzzo S, et al. Technological challenges for the design of the RFX-mod2 experiment. FusEng Des. 2019;146(Part A):692–6.
Dalla Palma M, et al. Design of the RFX-mod2 first wall. submitted to Fus Eng Des. 2019.
Spagnolo S, et al. Design of embedded electrostatic sensors for the RFX-mod2 device. In: 3rd European Conference on Plasma Diagnostics 6–9 May 2019 Lisbon Portugal. 2019.
Marconato N, et al. Design of the new electromagnetic measurement system for RFX-mod upgrade. Fus Eng Des. 2019;146:906–9.
Canton A, et al. Characterization of first wall materials in RFX-mod. In: 43rd EPS Conference on Plasma Physic. 2016; P5.012:1–4.
Suzuki S, et al. High heat flux experiments of saddle type divertor module. J Nucl Mater. 1994;212–215:1365–9.
Chen L. Thermal analysis on various design concepts of ITER divertor Langmuir probes. FusSciTechnol. 2018;73:568–78.
Dalla Palma M, et al. Thermal analysis and high heat flux testing of unidirectional carbon–carbon composite for infrared imaging diagnostic. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2018a;134:143–55.
Dalla Palma M, et al. Simulation of the beamline thermal measurements to derive particle beam parameters in the ITER neutral beam test facility. Rev Sci Instrum. 2018b;89(10):10J111.
Dalla Palma M, et al. The thermal measurement system for the SPIDER beam source. FusEng Des. 2011;86(6–8):1328–31.
Xu Y. Thermal analysis of beamline heat load components due to increased power delivery from EAST neutral beam injector. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2020;139:527–33.
Maschio A, et al. The power supply system of RFX. FusEng Des. 1995;25(4):401–24.
Zanca P, et al. Plasma wall interactions in RFX-mod with virtual magnetic boundary. J Nucl Mater. 2007;363–365:733–7.
Rohsenow WM, et al. Handbook of heat transfer. 3rd ed. United States of America: McGraw-Hill; 1998.
ASTM D1418-17 Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices-Nomenclature. Book of Standards Volume 09.01. ASTM International; 2017.
VHBTM GPH Series Product Data Sheet. 3M. 2016. www.tapes-store.com/media/3m_VHB_GPH_Data_sheet.pdf. Accessed 9 Jan 2020.
ASTM D709 - 17 Standard Specification for Laminated Thermosetting Materials. Book of Standards Volume 10.01. ASTM International; 2017.
Jarlaczyńska A, et al. The structure of silicon coatings obtained on TZM molybdenum alloy by slurry method. InżynieriaMateriałowa Mater Eng. 2017. https://doi.org/10.15199/28.2017.5.7.
Torlon® PAI Design Guide. Solvay. 2015. www.solvayultrapolymers.com/en/binaries/Torlon-PAI-Design-Guide_EN-227547.pdf. Accessed 9 Jan 2020.
Double Enamelled Copper Wires DNE2. Vega Tronik. 2011. https://vega-tronik.eu/Uk/enamelled_copper_wires.html. Accessed 9 Jan 2020.
Peruzzo S, et al. Detailed design of the RFX-mod2 machine load assembly. FusEng Des. 2018;136:1605–13.
Scarin P, et al. Helical plasma-wall interaction in the RFX-mod: effects of high-n mode locking. NuclFus. 2019;59:086008.
Dalla Palma M, et al. Mechanical measurements in RFX-mod experiment. FusEng Des. 2010;85(7–9):1279–82.
Dalla Palma M, et al. Design and R&D of thermal sensors for ITER neutral beam injectors. IEEE Trans Plasma Sci. 2014;42(3):610–5.
UHV Kapton Wire Copper Conductor Single Strand. Allectra. https://shop.allectra.com/products/311-kap-100-10m. Accessed 9 Jan 2020.
Sub-Miniature D. Allectra. www.allectra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ALLECTRA-C-2018-E.pdf. Accessed 9 Jan 2020.
Acknowledgements
The work leading to this publication is co-funded in the framework of the industrial innovation Project MIAIVO, Granted by Regione Veneto POR-FESR 2014–2020 (Regional Operational Program for the European Regional Development Fund).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
MDP conceived the presented study, verified results with analytical methods, and wrote the manuscript. AE and GG developed the models and performed the computations. RC supported the identification of accurate thermal loading conditions inferred from past experimental measurements. MDP and SP supervised the findings of this work. SP supported and monitored the activity as project manager.
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dalla Palma, M., Cavazzana, R., Erculiani, A. et al. Thermal analysis of the RFX-mod2 operating conditions for the design of the temperature measurement system. J Therm Anal Calorim 142, 2061–2075 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10351-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10351-4