Vanadium Alloys and Modified Steels for Low Activation Fusion Reactor Design

摘要

The motivations for low activation designs of fusion reactors fall into three categories: reactor maintenance, safety, and waste management and storage. Reducing activity levels to achieve contact maintenance of the blanket and plasma chamber of a fusion power reactor is probably not achievable. However, any reductions of induced activity will make maintenance easier in that it will reduce shielding requirements. Likewise, reductions in BHP (biological hazard potential) and the production of radioactive isotopes with long half lives can significantly impact safety and waste management. One approach to the activation issue is the use of ultra high purity SiC and aluminum alloys as structural materials. An alternative approach is the selection of alloys which are specifically tailored for reduced activity. A powerful advantage of the latter approach is that it is fully compatible with an established and proven design methodology. (ERA citation 08:011472)