Preliminary analysis of compatibility with low activation martensitic steel blanket for the fusion experimental breeder: Impact of ferromagnetic behavior on plasma burning cycle

The reduced activation ferritic martensitic steels is considered a candidate for the first wall (FW) blanket structural material because of its safety environmental advantages [R.L. Klueh, D.S. Geiles, et al., Ferritic/martensitic steels overview of recent results, J. Nucl. Mater. 307–312 (2002) 455–465; T. Muroga, M. Gasparotto, S.J. Zinkle, Overview of materials research for fusion reactors, Fusion Eng. Des. 61–62 (2002) 3–25]. An engineering design analysis concerning the electromagnetic issues is performed. Preliminary analysis results show that design effort of the fusion reactor can cope with the effect of the ferromagnetic FW blanket on the electromagnetic forces, which increases by 28–38% during a major plasma disruption and overcome the influence of the poloidal field, which reduces by 10–20%, comparing with the austenitic steel blanket. Both the effect and influence depend on the saturation magnetic susceptibility and blanket configurations.