Cooling optimization for preliminary design of ITER blanket shield block

Since the recommendation of blanket redesign by 2007 ITER design review, the blanket system has been developed in the framework of Blanket Integrated Product Team (BIPT) composed mainly of ITER organization (IO) and procuring parties. After the completion of blanket Conceptual Design Review (CDR), the design teams were organized to efficiently implement the preliminary and detailed design in a timely manner. The blanket shield block is a bulk structure to provide the nuclear shielding: therefore it should be designed to accommodate the nuclear heating in parallel with the mitigation of electromagnetic loading by slit optimization. This paper briefly describes the cooling optimization for the preliminary design of ITER blanket shield block 01,02,08 and 16. Three-dimensional hydraulic and thermo-mechanical analyses for the preliminary design modules of hybrid structure with poloidal and radial cooling concepts are performed under the inductive operation as a representative loading condition. The pressure drop, heat transfer and coolant uniformity in cooling passages are investigated in detail. In addition, the manufacturability of a blanket shield block is also considered as the important design constraint in the cooling optimization. Our stress evaluation follows the relevant codes and standards outlined in the design protocol provided by the IO. This paper presents the analysis results, identifies issues on the preliminary configuration and makes suggestions on the design improvements. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.