Analysis of flow channel insert deformations influence on the liquid metal flow in DCLL blanket channels

Dionisio Di Giulio, Daniel Suarez, Lluis Batet, Elisabet Mas de les Valls, Laura Savoldi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The dual coolant lithium lead (DCLL) is a candidate to be an effective breeding blanket (BB) concept for nuclear fusion technologies. One critical point of this design is the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects involving Lorentz damping force which produces relevant pressure drop in the eutectic flow. In the framework of the European DEMO, the application of sandwich-like steel–alumina–steel flow channel insert (FCI) seems to be the best solution to reduce the pressure drop by electrically decoupling the liquid PbLi from the Eurofer walls. The impact of the FCI on the PbLi velocity profile is analyzed in this work with a CFD solver implemented on OpenFOAM. Under the assumption of non-buoyant fully developed channel flow the temperature map in the channel is computed. Based on the temperature field, the induced deformation is evaluated. The effects of the FCI deformation and possible rupture of the FCI on the velocity profile and on the corresponding pressure drop are then parametrically investigated. Results show that the deformation of the FCI and the possible break in the Hartmann wall do not lead to significant variations in the pressure drop from the case of intact FCI in a wide range of interaction parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Article number111639
JournalFusion Engineering and Design
Volume157
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2020
Externally publishedYes

Funding

This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014–2018 and 2019–2020 under grant agreement no. 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. The authors thank as well the contribution of Associació/Col·legi d’Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya with Fundació Caixa d’Enginyers’ financial support. This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratomresearch and training programme 2014–2018 and 2019–2020 under grant agreement no. 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. The authors thank as well the contribution of Associació/Col·legi d'Enginyers Industrials de Catalunya with Fundació Caixa d'Enginyers’ financial support.

Keywords

  • Breeding blanket
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • DCLL
  • EU-DEMO
  • Flow channel insert
  • Magnetohydrodynamics

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