Neutronic Activity for Development of the Promising Alternative Water-Cooled DEMO Concepts

An emerging breeding blanket that fulfills performance criteria, meets the safety requirements, and is reliable enough to meet plant availability a challenging issue assumes complex studies involving numerous neutronic analyses based on Monte Carlo simulations with MCNP code. Two different concepts are now candidates be implemented as driver for DEMO fusion reactor: WCLL (Water-Cooled Lithium Lead) HCPB (Helium-Cooled Pebble Bed). The current R&D work within EUROfusion project concentrated search new water-cooled layouts: deep upgrade of ensure sufficient tritium capability an elaboration hybrid concept coupling technological advantages water coolant, lead neutron multiplier, ceramic breeder. To this end, very detailed, fully heterogeneous geometry models were developed newest designs WCLL-db (WCLL-double bundle) WLCB (Water-cooled liquid Lead Ceramic Breeder) blankets verify engineering solutions. This makes rigorous calculations possible find optimal breeder layout. basic response, ratio (TBR), was assessed both concepts, it appeared TBR = 1.16 ≤ 1.13 DEMOs, respectively. Several layouts investigated reach sustainable fuel cycle. promising novel solutions suggested enhance achieve ≥ 1.16: heavy coolant advanced ceramic. Various nuclear aspects technologies utilized in addressed facilitate decisions aimed at consolidated design upcoming reactor.