An overview of INEL Fusion Safety R&D facilities

• Published in: Journal of fusion energy 1997-06, Vol.16 (1-2), p.113-118
• Main Authors: MCCARTHY, K. A, SMOLIK, G. R, ANDERL, R. A, CARMACK, W. J, LONGHURST, G. R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fusion reactors; High temperature; Hydrogen isotopes; Hydrogen production; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear safety; Reactor safety; Research facilities; Safety programs; Test facilities; Tritium
• ISSN: 0164-0313; 1572-9591
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1022525315645

The Fusion Safety Program at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory has the lead for fusion safety work in the United States. Over the years, we have developed several experimental facilities to provide data for fusion reactor safety analyses. We now have four major experimental facilities that provide data for use in safety assessments. The Steam-Reactivity Measurement System measures hydrogen generation rates and tritium mobilization rates in high-temperature (up to 1200°C) fusion relevant materials exposed to steam. The Volatilization of Activation Product Oxides Reactor Facility provides information on mobilization and transport and chemical reactivity of fusion relevant materials at high temperature (up to 1200°C) in an oxidizing environment (air or steam). The Fusion Aerosol Source Test Facility is a scaled-up version of VAPOR. The ion-implanta-tion/thermal-desorption system is dedicated to research into processes and phenomena associated with the interaction of hydrogen isotopes with fusion materials. In this paper we describe the capabilities of these facilities.