Closed V-Shaped Diverter First Wall Structure for Fusion Reactors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current divertor first walls in tokamak fusion devices face challenges due to poor heat transfer capacity at water joints, leading to potential failure under high heat loads from plasma bombardment, limiting flexible plasma configuration adjustments and operation safety.
Innovation Solution
A closed V-shaped acute-angle structure for the first wall is designed, featuring a target and reflector plate with a tungsten-copper-chromium-zirconium-copper-stainless-steel layer configuration, forming a HyperVapotron cooling water channel, which allows for equal heat transfer capacity and flexible plasma strike point adjustments, enhancing heat load management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate first wall structure with water joints is used, then the structure can be assembled and cooled, but the heat transfer capacity at water joints is poor leading to end effects under high heat loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the target and reflector plate into a single integrated first wall structure, eliminating the water joints that caused poor heat transfer. The integrated structure features a continuous cooling water channel running through both components, removing the interface where end effects occurred and improving overall heat load bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the water joints (water cassette) from the structure that were causing the heat transfer problem. By eliminating these intermediate connection components and their associated cooling channels, the design removes the source of end effects while simplifying the overall structure.
2Reliability
If the target and reflector plate have different structures, then they can be optimized for their specific functions, but the water joints have poor heat transfer capacity compared to the target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving the target and reflector plate different surface properties and geometries suitable for their specific functions (plasma facing vs. reflective), while maintaining the same internal cooling structure and heat transfer capacity. This allows functional optimization without compromising thermal performance or flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If water joints are used to connect target and reflector plate, then assembly is possible, but end effects occur making plasma configuration adjustment inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the target and reflector plate into one seamless structure, eliminating the water joints that caused end effects. This integration enables flexible plasma configuration adjustments without the risk of thermal failure at connection points, simultaneously improving operability and safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The closed V-shaped acute-angle structure effectively eliminates end effects, improves heat transfer efficiency, and enhances operation safety by ensuring equal heat transfer capacity between the target and reflector plate, allowing for flexible plasma configuration adjustments and reduced heat load on the target.
Implementation Method 1
the chromium-zirconium-copper layer and the stainless-steel layer inside the heat sink form a HyperVapotron cooling water channel
Implementation Method 2
the cooling water pipe is communicated with the HyperVapotron cooling water channel to form a cooling water channel
Implementation Method 3
a first wall of a divertor is required to withstand the bombardment of high-energy particles from the plasma core. In this case, a heat load ranging from several MW/m2
Implementation Method 4
the target and the reflector plate are butt welded to form the closed V-shaped acute-angle structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A closed V-shaped acute-angle structure for a first wall of a divertor, including: a target, a reflector plate and a cooling water pipe connected in sequence. The target and the reflector plate both have a flat-plate structure, including a tungsten layer, a copper layer, a chromium-zirconium-copper layer, a stainless-steel layer and a stainless-steel cover plate. The chromium-zirconium-copper layer, the stainless-steel layer and the stainless-steel cover plate are combined to form a heat sink, where the chromium-zirconium-copper layer and the stainless-steel layer are processed to form a HyperVapotron cooling water channel which is communicated with the cooling water pipe to form a cooling water channel. The target and the reflector plate are butt welded to form the closed V-shaped acute-angle structure to enable the flexible adjustment and control of plasma strike points between the target and the reflector plate, enabling the flexible adjustment of the plasma configuration. At a chromium-zirconium-copper side of the heat sink in a welding area, the HyperVapotron cooling water channel experiences a transition in a sequence of the chromium-zirconium-copper layer- chromium-zirconium-copper and stainless-steel mixed layer-stainless-steel layer.