Mockups of blanket cooling plates manufactured in different diffusion welding setups

The high amount of energy applied to the structural elements of a future fusion power plant results in the need of using plates with meandering cooling channels. Of the different proposals [J.-F. Salavy, G. Aiello, P. Aubert, L.V. Boccaccini, M. Daichendt, G. De Dinechin, E. Diegele, L.M. Giancarli, R. Lasser, H. Neuberger, Y. Poitevin, Y. Stephan, G. Rampal, E. Rigal, J. Nucl. Mater., 386-388 (2009) 922. [1]]. made to manufacture such plates, a diffusion welding process of two symmetric halves is a promising candidate. This paper will focus on the recent industrial manufacturing series conducted to increase the dimensions of the work-piece. In this case, the diffusion welding process was performed in a hot isostatic pressing setup. In a former attempt, a uniaxial diffusion welding setup had been applied. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.