1-Pin Blanket Mockup: Results of the Extended Test Campaign

Following a preliminary test campaign (200 thermal cycles) on a solid breeder blanket mockup, an extended test campaign (about 1000 thermal cycles) has been carried out by ENEA. The duration of the test campaign represents a significant fraction of the blanket module lifetime in the ITER device. In particular, these out-of-pile experiments have been performed in order to test (both functional and endurance testing) the thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanical performance of a water cooled breeder-in-tube blanket mockup (1-PIN) using Li₂ZrO₃ pebbles as a breeder material.

The test campaign has been completed and the resulting data concerning thermal and thermal-hydraulic parameters have been elaborated and analyzed by means of a comparison with theoretical predictions based on a proper thermal-hydraulic model.

The post test examination of the pebbles is in progress in order to investigate the thermo-mechanical behavior of the breeder material under cycling.

The paper deals with the first part of the results.