ITER Tritium Fuel Cycle Modeling
Scott Willms and Bill Kubic
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Fusion Nuclear Science and Technology Workshop
UCLA
August 2, 2010
Outline
• Tritium Processing modeling history
• TEP modeling
• Consideration of next steps
2
Tritium processing modeling history
3
Simplified ITER flow diagram
Example fusion fuel cycle modeling efforts
Code
TBR-related
FC model
Period
Mid 1980’s
Code Base
Custom
Institution(s)
UCLA
Type of code
High-level, first-order
differential equations
Purpose
Estimate
required TBR
Supercode
Late 1980’s
Custom
ANL, LANL
Scaling laws
TSTA Model
Late 1980’s
Custom
LANL
Algebraic flow and
reaction equations
Cost and overall
size
Pressure/flow
control
Dynsim
1980’s-1990’s
Custom
LANL-Japan
Rigorous ISS
CFTSIM
1990’s
Custom
CFFTP
Rigorous ISS
TRUFFLES
1990’s
Custom
UCLA-LANL
TRIMO
1990’s-2000’s
Custom
ITER TEP
2006-2010
Commercial
CFFTPUCLA-ITERFZK
LANL-SRNL
High-level, modular fuel
cycle
High-level, modular fuel
cycle
Medium-level, modular
systems code
ISS
understanding
and design
ISS
understanding
and design
T inventory, FC
design
T inventory, FC
design (ITER)
TEP design
5
Uses for tritium processing models
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Component design
System design
Parameter regression
Technology trade-off studies
Hazard characterization and analysis
Requirements determination
Control system development
Experimental development augmentation
Design documentation
Operator training
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ITER TEP modeling
7
TEP process flow diagram
TEP modeling overview
• TEP model used for:
– Component regression from experimental data
– Technology selection
– Component sizing
• TEP models include:
– Component models
o Detailed understanding of component performance
– System models
o Overall process performance
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Modeling tools relationship
Aspen
property
library
Kinetic
model
data
Aspen
Plus
Basic
flowsheet
data
User
defined
model
Steady
state model
Aspen
Dynamics
library
Aspen
Custom
Modeler
Aspen
Dynamics
Dynamic
model
Custom
TEP library
10
TEP models completed
• Modules
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Permeator (ACM)
PMR (ACM)
PERMCAT (stand-alone)
Vacuum Pumps (ACM)
Ambient molecular sieve bed (ACM)
Cryogenic molecular sieve bed (ACM)
Dynamic feed generator (ACM)
Molecular and transition flow conductance model (ACM)
• Sub-Systems
– Hydrogen-like processing
– Air-like processing
– Water-like processing
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Examples of module bechmarks
Comparison of permeator model
with data of Willms et al. (1993)
Comparison the model with LANL data
for a Normetex 15 backed by an MB-601
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Aspen Model of Permeator / AMSB for HLP
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Aspen Model of Combined ALP-WLP
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Aspen system models used to optimize design
• Can account for system interactions in the design process
– Permeator-pump interactions
– PMR-pump interactions
– Multistage permeator pump performance
• Easy to modify PFD to reduce equipment sizes and minimize
pumping requirements
• Can base sizing calculations on overall system performance
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Example - Permeator Optimization
•
Tritium release from
third stage as a
function of number of
first stage pumps
– Determine tritium release from
third (final) stage peremator
– Determine breakthrough area
•
First stage area as a
function of number of
first stage pumps
Most Common
Operations
Tritium release from
third stage as a
function of feed rate
Determine number of pumps and
permeator area based on point of
dimishing returns
– Six MB-601 pumps for first stage
– 3 m3 of membrane area for first
stage
•
Permeator Train
Breakthrough
Vary the number of first stage
pumps
Evaluate system margin
– Margin based on overall system
performance and not individual
units
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Consideration of next steps
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DT
Major flow
paths for ITER
Fuel Cycle
during DT
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Next steps
• Past modeling efforts have laid an excellent foundation for the next
work that needs to be performed
• The ITER TEP modeling effort has laid an excellent template for
future work
• Major development needed includes:
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–
–
–
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Models of ITER sub-systems (expect for TEP)
ITER Fuel Cycle model
ITER TBM modeling
Fusion Nuclear Science Facility model
Benchmarking
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Summary
• Computer modeling has been an important component of tritium
processing development
• Recent ITER TEP modeling was not only successful in itself, but lays
an excellent template for future modeling work
• There are a number of current and future projects which would
benefit greatly from further modeling work
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