| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Transmutation Effects in Fusion Reactor Materials: Critical Challenges & Path Forward
|
| Presentation Title |
Helium Production in Irradiated Low-temperature Solder Candidates for Novel Fusion Magnet Cables |
| Author(s) |
Christopher Richard Reis |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christopher Richard Reis |
| Abstract Scope |
As momentum behind commercially viable nuclear fusion builds, solder-impregnated REBCO cables, such as MIT’s VIPER cables, have gained favor for their electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, solder in these novel cables would be subject to the fusion-reaction neutrons and thus helium bubble production. Since in-service conditions require cryogenic temperatures for the superconducting magnets, the irradiation and subsequent bubble production would occur around 20-30K. As these magnets are then brought to room temperature for maintenance the bubbles would undergo significant expansion, potentially leading to cable fracturing from high pressure bursting and would result in an electromechanically compromised system. This study proposes to investigate the effects of helium production as a function of fluence by first simulating the He production expected using MCNP/FISPACT-II, then using cryo-helium implantation at 77K to replicate the effect of the irradiation on candidate solders before subsequently raising to room temperature for mechanical testing. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Magnetic Materials, Modeling and Simulation |