Fusion Programme SCK•CEN - Annual Report 2004

SCK•CEN articulates its fusion technology contribution towards a crucial question for the fusion technological development: How do materials and equipment behave in severe radiation fields? This involves materials for first wall, vessel assembly and blanket, but is also extended to the radiation hardness of instrumentation components used for diagnostics and remote maintenance. This main fusion involvement is complemented by specific studies on environmental issues, in particular related to waste management, and to a few socio-economic aspects of future fusion energy production. To perform its work, SCK•CEN relies on its core competences and available facilities, usually originated from its main involvement in fission reactor technology: irradiation capabilities, research in radiation effects on materials and instrumentation, on-going programmes in dismantling and waste disposal, and even its involvement in the design of an accelerator-driven spallation-source reactor. The fusion activities are driven by and put in synergy with these strong poles. The main goal of evaluating the effects of radiation on materials and instrumentation is tackled in a comprehensive way, taking full use of all available facilities: the BR2 material testing reactor of course, but also a wide range of fully equipped hot cells, a variety of gamma sources, specialised laboratories for tritium and beryllium handling. The quality of this involvement is recognised by a co-ordination role played for performance tests of new steels under radiation (TTMS-001 task), and for radiation hardening of instrumentation (RADTOL task). SCK•CEN covers approximately one half of the Belgian contribution to the European fusion programme, in complement to the plasma physics research conducted at KMS/ERM and ULB, and to the industrial contributions of Belgatom through EFET. The SCK•CEN involvement encompasses also the participation of three additional fusion sub-partners: the GRADEL company in Luxemburg (remote handling), the IBA company in Louvain-la-Neuve (IFMIF accelerator) and the KU-Leuven university (copper corrosion).