Investigation of Anchor Link Magnetohydrodynamic Effects in the Toroidally Symmetric Lead-Lithium (TSLL) Blanket Concept

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow in a slotted channel with a cylindrical anchor link, which is an imperative component of the toroidally symmetric lead-lithium (TSLL) blanket concept. Following the validation of the MHD solver implemented in COMSOL and a proposed subtraction approach to compute the anchor link pressure drop, the effects of computational domain size on the pressure drop and velocity distribution are examined. The results show that the pressure drop associated with the anchor link and the maximum flow velocity follow an asymptotic trend as the domain width increases, with wall-induced pressure drop being more dominant than that of the anchor link.

The velocity distribution analysis revealed the formation of an internal boundary layer extending along the magnetic field direction, which is a unique feature of the investigated MHD flow. An estimation of the total MHD pressure drop associated with the array of anchor links under the TSLL blanket conditions suggests ~0.3 MPa, which is significantly lower than the recommended maximum allowable blanket pressure drop of 2 MPa. This work offers valuable insights into the anchor link–associated MHD phenomena and serves as a foundation for further development of the TSLL blanket concept for future fusion reactors.