1. Improvements to power flow modeling in the ARIES system code
M. S. Tillack
ARIES Project Meeting
25-26 October 2010

2. Background Existing models and assumptions need improvement
Discrepancies were found within the code (DesignPoint.cpp)
The current models are not transparent
The current models can not be modified; they are based on analysis for specific conditions, and their scalability is suspect
The current documentation is very poor
Topics addressed here:
Thermal conversion efficiency
Pumping power in the blanket and divertor
Power density limits
Pump efficiencies
Fusion power partitioning

3. 1. Thermal conversion efficiency VASST currently interpolates tables of analysis results from specific blanket/divertor designs
(DCLL)
(SiC)
Z. Dragojlovic, A. R. Raffray, F. Najmabadi, C. Kessel, L. Waganer, L. El-Guebaly and L. Bromberg,
"An Advanced Computational Algorithm for Systems Analysis of Tokamak Power Plants," Fusion Engineering & Design 85 (2), , 2010.

4. The only real impact of the power core on conversion efficiency comes from bulk coolant temperatures
with or w/o intermediate HX
Siegfried Malang, Horst Schnauder, and Mark Tillack, 
"Combination of a Self-Cooled Liquid Metal Breeder 
Blanket with a Gas Turbine Power Conversion System," 
Fusion Engineering and Design 41 (Sept. 1998) 561.

5. Advanced Brayton Cycle Parameters Based on Present or Near Term Technology Evolved with Expert Input from General Atomics*
Min. He Temp. in cycle (heat sink) = 35°C
3-stage compression with 2 inter-coolers
Turbine efficiency = 0.93
Compressor efficiency = 0.88
Recuperator effectiveness (advanced design) = 0.96
Cycle He fractional DP = 0.03
Intermediate Heat Exchanger
- Effectiveness = 0.9
- (mCp)He/(mCp)Pb-17Li = 1
* R. Schleicher, A. R. Raffray, C. P. C. Wong, “An Assessment of the Brayton Cycle for High Performance Power Plant,” Fusion Technology 39 (2), , March 2001.

6. Power density limits the bulk outlet temperature due to structure temperature limits and heat transfer DT’s
Tmax,structure
DTHX
DTs~q’’d/k + q’’’ d2/2k
Tin (limited by dbtt)
DTb
Tmax,interface
Brayton cycle
DTf~q/h
Tout

7. BUT the temperature of coolant entering the turbine is determined by blanket internal bulk temperatures
Since the time of ARIES-ST, we worked hard to decouple the power cycle from heat flux constraints

8. Other considerations for power density effects on bulk outlet temperature
Can we ignore thermal stress limits on To?
They are very design-dependent
For the metallic structures they seem not to be limiting outlet temperatures (except to the extent structure temperature limits are based on creep)
For SiC, ARIES-AT analysis demonstrated a large margin
I would be surprised if blanket stresses limit To, but we should explore it
Heat flux peaking factors
If heat flux constrains efficiency, then profiles will be important

9. 2. Pumping power
Pressure drop is related to heat transfer, and therefore heat flux limits
Higher pressure drop enables higher heat flux
Diminishing returns when h>k/d
Historically we set 5% Pth as the maximum for the blanket and 10% for the divertor, but these are parameters
We need a way to trade increased heat flux vs. decreased net electric

10. ARIES-ST FW thermal hydraulic design window
>600 ˚C wall temperature
>5% pumping power

11. Current pumping power models in VASST
DCLL blanket
Interploated from tables
DCLL divertor
MW/m2 × surface area
SiC combined blanket/divertor
50/50 split for blanket/divertor
Doesn’t matter in power balance, unless we want to decouple them
New models for both blanket and divertor are needed if we want a He-cooled divertor
(DCLL blanket)
(SiC blanket + divertor)

12. Power density limits in VASST
Not clear how filters are working in the code
DCLL
Divertor peak heat flux < 8 MW/m2
FW peak heat flux < 1.0 MW/m2
Peak neutron wall load < 7.5 MW/m2
ARIES-AT
FW peak heat flux < MW/m2
Peak neutron wall load < 6 MW/m2

13. Pump efficiencies Existing DCLL module
Tabular data between 35 and 40%
Depends on Pn and q” (no explanation for this; probably an error)
No distinction is made between PbLi and He pumps
Existing SiC module
Efficiency is input from a data file
Recommendation:
For He, 90% is reasonable for a compressor
For PbLi, it depends on pumping method
40% for conduction or ALIP EM pump
80% for a mechanical pump
In either case, this is not “standard” technology
PbLi pumping power is small compared to He, so this parameter probably doesn’t have a large impact.

14. Fusion power partitioning
At present, the power balance uses area fractions to distribute heat to the FWB and divertor
PFC area = FW + total divertor plates
f_geo_div = divertor area / PFC area
Used for both neutron power and core radiation power
This certainly over-estimates power flows to the divertor
First estimate could be q/p
Better estimates from neutronics scaling and radiation models q

15. Discussion and conclusions
New algorithms should provide transparency, scalability and upgradability.
The only complication is the need to trade maximum heat flux against pumping power (plant net efficiency).
Partitioning of neutron and radiation power distribution need to be revisited.

16. UCSD authorship at the 19th TOFE
“Pushing the limits of He-cooled high heat flux concepts,” M. S. Tillack, X. R. Wang, D. Navaei, J. Burke, S. Malang
“Innovative first wall concept providing additional armor at high heat flux regions,” X.R. Wang, S. Malang, M. S. Tillack
“High performance divertor target concept for a power plant: a combination of plate and finger concepts,” X.R. Wang, S. Malang, M. S. Tillack
“Optimization of ARIES T-tube divertor concept,” J. A. Burke, X. R. Wang, M. S. Tillack
“Elastic-plastic analysis of the transition joint for high performance divertor target plate,” D. Navaei, X. R. Wang, M. S. Tillack, S. Malang
“Ratchetting models for fusion component design,” J. P. Blanchard, C. J. Martin, M. S. Tillack, and X. R. Wang
“Development of the lead lithium (DCLL) blanket concept,” S. Malang, M. S. Tillack, C. P. C. Wong, N. B. Morley
“Developing a new visualization tool for the ARIES systems code,” L. C. Carlson, F. Najmabadi, M. S. Tillack