MHD R&D Activities for Liquid Metal Blankets

According to the most recently revised European design strategy for DEMO breeding blankets, mature concepts have been identified that require a reduced technological extrapolation towards DEMO and will be tested in ITER. In order to optimize and finalize the design of test blanket modules, a number of issues have to be better understood that are related to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) interactions of the liquid breeder with the strong magnetic field that confines the fusion plasma. The aim of the present paper is to describe the state of the art of the study of MHD effects coupled with other physical phenomena, such as tritium transport, corrosion and heat transfer. Both numerical and experimental approaches are discussed, as well as future requirements to achieve a reliable prediction of these processes in liquid metal blankets.

Automated summary

The European design strategy has identified mature concepts for DEMO breeding blankets that require reduced technological extrapolation and testing in ITER. Understanding magnetohydrodynamic interactions and other physical phenomena in liquid metal blankets is crucial for optimizing test blanket module designs. Both numerical and experimental approaches are being discussed to reliably predict processes in liquid metal blankets.