Status of HCCR TBM program for DEMO blanket

Development of the Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) breeding blanket is underway according to the development strategy of core technology for K-DEMO under the fusion energy development roadmap in Korea. The main goals are to validate integrated design tools and to develop core technologies in the field of materials, manufacturing and joining technologies, helium cooling and tritium technologies, system integration, and safety technologies. A unique graphite reflector concept was adopted to save cost by reducing the amount of beryllium neutron multiplier. The main functions and design concepts of the HCCR breeding blanket are to be verified in ITER through the HCCR Test Blanket Module (TBM) program. Not only breeder modules are to be tested in ITER but also the technologies of cooling, coolant purification, tritium extraction, etc. are to be tested or proved in ITER before employed in DEMO. This paper introduces the current updates of the design and R&D activities of the HCCR TBM systems in the preliminary design stage.

Automated summary

Development of the Helium Cooled Ceramic Reflector (HCCR) breeding blanket in Korea is focused on validating integrated design tools and core technologies, with a unique graphite reflector concept to reduce costs. The main functions and design concepts of HCCR breeding blanket will be verified in ITER, along with testing cooling, coolant purification, tritium extraction technologies before employed in DEMO.