Design development and analytical assessment of LLCB TBM in Russian Federation during 2012–2013

• The detailed design of LLCB TBM has been developed.
• The neutronic calculations demonstrate the feasibility of the LLCB concept for applying tritium breeding.
• The results of transient thermal analysis and the first results of structural analysis proved the ability of operation of the considered design.
• The work is performed in the framework of partnership with Indian Party (leader of the LLCB TBM concept).

The activity on the design, analysis, and R&D for the test blanket module (TBM) with lead–lithium (LL) eutectic coolant and ceramic breeder (CB) was performed in the Russian Federation (RF) according to the technical program of cooperation between the leading research institutes of India (“leader” of the LLCB TBM concept) and RF (“partner”). During the period of 2012–2013, the joint efforts of the RF and Indian specialists were focused on the development of the TBM's basic design with an optimal set of parameters (in particular for testing on both H-H and H-D operation phases of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) machine). This article briefly describes the results of the TBM design and analysis that have been obtained by the RF specialists (“NIKIET” and D.V. Efremov Institute) in support of the LLCB concept (both DEMO blanket and TBM itself). The main directions of this activity in RF institutes were as follows:–development of the TBM design taking into account the ability to manufacture the TBM elements (load-bearing casing, tritium-breeding zone, and attachment system);–thermal analysis (in both stationary and transient approaches) of TBM design options (four variations of helium and eutectic flowing directions);–structural analysis of TBM design elements for Inductive I operation mode; and–recommendations (based upon the results of comparative analysis) on the reference design to be used on further stages of concept development.The critical issues and further plans on the development of LLCB TBM and corresponding DEMO blanket in the RF are also presented in this article.