Fins: Improving tritium extraction systems and permeation sensors with the adoption of extended surfaces

IF 1.9 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Fusion Engineering and Design Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2025.115065

Ciro Alberghi , Luigi Candido , Daniele Martelli , Francesca Papa , Marco Utili , Alessandro Venturini

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Tritium extraction from lithium-lead (PbLi, 15.7 at. % Li) and tritium concentration measurement in the eutectic alloy represent some of the most challenging aspects of the R&D activities aimed to the development of ITER and the European DEMO reactor. To efficiently design Permeator Against Vacuum (PAV) systems and Hydrogen isotopes Permeation Sensors (HPS), theoretical models for the evaluation of the permeation flux have been proposed in literature, but methodologies for the improvement of their performances are still lacking. In this paper a new concept of finned permeator is analysed, leveraging the analogy between mass transport and heat transfer. In PAV and HPS, the low-pressure side is usually kept under medium/high vacuum conditions and surface phenomena can play an important role, especially when the membrane presents oxidation. The fin approach is particularly effective in these cases, where transport kinetics is dominated by surface effects (diffusion in the bulk is relatively fast) and can be used as a method to increase the permeation of hydrogen isotopes with limited increase in system size. Within the paper, the mathematical model for the extended surface placed on the vacuum side is derived and simple relations for design parameters for the finned surface, like fin efficiency and effectiveness, are derived. The solution of this analytical model is compared with numerical results for a PAV system with niobium membrane under relevant conditions for DEMO reactor.

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鳍片：改进氚提取系统和采用延伸表面的渗透传感器

从锂铅中提取氚（PbLi, 15.7 at）。共晶合金中% Li)和氚浓度的测量代表了研发活动中最具挑战性的一些方面，这些活动旨在开发ITER和欧洲DEMO反应堆。为了有效地设计真空渗透器（PAV）系统和氢同位素渗透传感器（HPS），已有文献提出了评估渗透通量的理论模型，但仍缺乏改进其性能的方法。本文利用传质与传热的类比，分析了翅片渗透器的新概念。在PAV和HPS中，低压侧通常保持在中/高真空条件下，表面现象可以发挥重要作用，特别是当膜出现氧化时。在这些情况下，翅片方法特别有效，其中输运动力学由表面效应主导（总体扩散相对较快），并且可以作为一种方法，在有限的系统尺寸增加的情况下增加氢同位素的渗透。本文推导了真空侧扩展面的数学模型，并推导了翅片面设计参数的简单关系式，如翅片效率和效能。将该解析模型的解与DEMO反应器相关条件下含铌膜PAV系统的数值结果进行了比较。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Fusion Engineering and Design 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

23.50%

发文量

275

审稿时长

3.8 months

期刊介绍： The journal accepts papers about experiments (both plasma and technology), theory, models, methods, and designs in areas relating to technology, engineering, and applied science aspects of magnetic and inertial fusion energy. Specific areas of interest include: MFE and IFE design studies for experiments and reactors; fusion nuclear technologies and materials, including blankets and shields; analysis of reactor plasmas; plasma heating, fuelling, and vacuum systems; drivers, targets, and special technologies for IFE, controls and diagnostics; fuel cycle analysis and tritium reprocessing and handling; operations and remote maintenance of reactors; safety, decommissioning, and waste management; economic and environmental analysis of components and systems.