High-heat-flux testing of irradiated tungsten-based materials for fusion applications using infrared plasma ARC lamps

Adrian S. Sabau, Evan K. Ohriner, Jim Kiggans, Charles R. Schaich, Yoshio Ueda, David C. Harper, Yutai Katoh, Lance L. Snead

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Testing of advanced materials and component mock-ups under prototypical fusion high-heat-flux conditions, while historically a mainstay of fusion research, has proved challenging, especially for irradiated materials. A new high-heat-flux-testing (HHFT) facility based on water-wall plasma arc lamps (PALs) is now introduced for materials and small-component testing. Two PAL systems, utilizing a 12 000°C plasma arc contained in a quartz tube cooled by a spiral water flow over the inside tube surface, provide maximum incident heat fluxes of 4.2 and 27 MW/m2 over areas of 9 × 12 and 1 × 10 cm2, respectively. This paper will present the overall design and implementation of a PAL-based irradiated material target station (IMTS). The IMTS is primarily designed for testing the effects of heat flux or thermal cycling on material coupons of interest, such as those for plasma-facing components. Temperature results are shown for thermal cycling under HHFT of tungsten coupon specimens that were neutron irradiated in HFIR. Radiological surveys indicated minimal contamination of the 36- × 36- × 18-cm test section, demonstrating the capability of the new facility to handle irradiated specimens at high temperature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)394-404
Number of pages11
JournalFusion Science and Technology
Volume66
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2014

Funding

FundersFunder number
U.S. Department of EnergyDE-AC05-00OR22725

    Keywords

    • High-heat-flux testing
    • Infrared plasma arc lamp
    • Plasma-facing material

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'High-heat-flux testing of irradiated tungsten-based materials for fusion applications using infrared plasma ARC lamps'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this