Toothed Tokamak TF Coil Inner Legs for Asymmetric Force Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tokamak reactors face challenges in handling large asymmetric forces during transient events, such as inductive quench propagation and plasma formation, which can lead to deformation and instability of the toroidal field (TF) coils.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a toroidal field (TF) coil design with teeth on the inner legs, which mechanically engage with adjacent coils, provides load sharing and stabilizes the TF coils against asymmetric forces. This design includes a metal case with teeth that extend in a radial direction and may have components in both radial and vertical directions, facilitating engagement with adjacent TF coils and the central solenoid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional smooth TF coil design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the coils cannot effectively handle asymmetric forces during transient events
Solution Approach 1:
The TF coil structure is segmented by adding teeth to the inner leg, dividing the contact surface into multiple engagement points. These teeth mechanically engage with adjacent coils during transient events, distributing asymmetric forces across multiple contact points rather than a single smooth surface, thereby enhancing force resistance while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Teeth are added only to the inner leg of the TF coil, creating an asymmetric structure that specifically addresses the asymmetric forces experienced during transient events. This asymmetric design provides targeted mechanical engagement capability where it is most needed, without adding unnecessary complexity to other parts of the coil structure
2Reliability
If teeth are added to the inner leg, then mechanical engagement and load sharing improve, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Teeth are machined into the inner leg structure during the manufacturing process, preparing the coil in advance for transient event conditions. This preliminary action ensures that the mechanical engagement capability is built-in before the coil enters service, improving reliability without requiring additional components or complex assembly procedures that would worsen manufacturing ease
3Stability of the object's composition
If teeth extend in radial and vertical directions, then engagement with adjacent coils improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Teeth are designed to extend in multiple dimensions (radial and vertical directions) from the inner leg surface, creating a three-dimensional engagement structure. This multi-dimensional configuration allows the teeth to engage with adjacent coils in multiple directions simultaneously, enhancing mechanical stability by distributing forces across different spatial dimensions while maintaining a relatively simple overall tooth geometry
Data Source
AI summary
Some aspects relate to a toroidal field (TF) coil for a tokamak. The TF coil includes a first inner leg having teeth on a side of the first inner leg. The corresponds to an interface between the TF coil and a second TF coil. The teeth extend along a direction having a component in a radial direction of the tokamak. The teeth are configured to mechanically engage with second teeth of a second inner leg of the second TF coil.