Conceptual design study for heat exhaust management in the ARC fusion pilot plant

TL;DR

This paper explores innovative heat exhaust management solutions for the ARC fusion pilot plant, leveraging its unique design features to handle approximately 525 MW of fusion power in a compact tokamak.

Contribution

It extends previous ARC design studies by identifying novel heat exhaust management options utilizing its high-temperature superconductors and molten salt blanket.

Findings

Identified robust heat exhaust solutions compatible with ARC's design

Leveraged ARC's demountable magnets and molten salt blanket for power handling

Proposed innovative methods for managing high fusion power in compact tokamaks

Abstract

The ARC pilot plant conceptual design study has been extended beyond its initial scope [B. N. Sorbom et al., FED 100 (2015) 378] to explore options for managing ~525 MW of fusion power generated in a compact, high field (B_0 = 9.2 T) tokamak that is approximately the size of JET (R_0 = 3.3 m). Taking advantage of ARC's novel design - demountable high temperature superconductor toroidal field (TF) magnets, poloidal magnetic field coils located inside the TF, and vacuum vessel (VV) immersed in molten salt FLiBe blanket - this follow-on study has identified innovative and potentially robust power exhaust management solutions.