Development of a Steam Generator Mock-Up for EU DEMO Fusion Reactor: Conceptual Design and Code Assessment

Recent R&D activities in nuclear fusion have identified the DEMO reactor as ITER successor, aiming at demonstrating technical feasibility of plants, along with their commercial exploitation. However, pulsed operation machine causes an “unconventional” system, posing unique challenges to functional steam generator, for which it is necessary define and qualify a reference configuration DEMO. In order facilitate transitions between different operational regimes, Once Through Steam Generator (OTSG) considered be suitable choice primary heat transfer systems, being characterized by lower thermal inertia respect most common U-tube generators. this framework, ENEA has undertaken construction STEAM facility Brasimone R.C., characterizing behavior OTSG related water coolant systems steady-state transient conditions. A dedicated mock-up been conceived designed, adopting scaling procedure, keeping height 1:1 OTSGs. The conceptual design supported RELAP5/Mod3.3 thermal-hydraulic calculations. CFD FEM codes used fluid-dynamic analyses mechanical stress analyses, respectively, specific parts component.