A Combined Electromagnetic and Mechanical Approach for EU-DEMO Toroidal Field Coils

Abstract

The roadmap to fusion electricity of the European scientific program aims at the realization of the future DEMOnstration (DEMO) fusion power plant. In 2020, the pre-concept design phase of DEMO was completed, defining the concept and characteristics of the main magnets and structures of the machine. Sixteen toroidal D-shaped magnets, six poloidal annular coils and a central solenoid constitute the functioning system core. The reactor is subjected to huge mechanical loads, mainly due to the Lorentz force produced by the combination of the high magnetic fields and operative currents. As a consequence, the loading conditions are extremely demanding for the structural components, and it is crucial to complete a comprehensive static and fatigue assessment before proceeding with the next design iteration. This work focuses on the electromagnetic and structural analyses performed on the toroidal field coil system and its support structures to present the methodological approach developed. Exploiting the finite element method, a three-dimensional model has been defined to obtain the electromagnetic loads on the main time points of the reference plasma scenario and then transfer them to a related 3D structural model, corresponding to the discretization of the electromagnetic one. The structural model was used to obtain the displacement and stress fields at the various time points to perform the mechanical evaluation as well as the fatigue assessment.

Keywords

• finite elements
• fusion reactors
• superconducting magnets
• tokamak devices