A new Deuterium-Tritium campaign (DTE2) is planned at JET in the next years, with a proposed 14 MeV neutron budget of 1.7E21, which is nearly an order of magnitude higher than any previous DT campaigns. The neutron and gamma ray fields inside the JET device during DT plasma operations at specific locations have previously been evaluated. It is estimated that a total neutron fluence on the first wall of JET of up to 1E20 n/m2 could be achieved, which is comparable to the fluence occurring in ITER at the end of life in the rear part of the port plug, where several diagnostic components will be located. The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the radiation damage and nuclear heating in selected functional materials to be irradiated at JET during DT plasma operation. These quantities are calculated with the use of the MCNP6 code and the FISPACT II code. In particular the neutron and gamma ray fields at specific locations inside the JET device, dedicated to material damage studies, were characterized. The emphasis is on a potential long term irradiation station located close to the first wall at outboard midplane, offering the opportunity to irradiate samples of functional materials used in ITER diagnostics, to assess the degradation of the physical properties. The radiation damage and the nuclear heating were calculated for selected materials irradiated in these positions and for the neutron flux and fluence expected in DTE2. The studied candidate functional materials include, among others, Sapphire, YAG, ZnS, Spinel, Diamond. In addition the activation of the internal irradiation holder itself was calculated with FISPACT. Damage levels in the range of 1E-5 dpa were found.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29290279
The power output of fusion devices is measured in terms of the neutron yield which relates directly to the fusion yield. JET made a transition from Carbon wall to ITER-Like Wall (Beryllium/Tungsten/Carbon) during 2010–11. Absolutely calibrated measurement of the neutron yield by JET neutron monitors was ensured by direct measurements using a calibrated 252Cf neutron source (NS) deployed by the in-vessel remote handling system (RHS) inside the JET vacuum vessel. Neutronic calculations were required in order to understand the neutron transport from the source in the vacuum vessel to the fission chamber detectors mounted outside the vessel on the transformer limbs of the tokamak. We developed a simplified computational model of JET and the JET RHS in Monte Carlo neutron transport code MCNP and analyzed the paths and structures through which neutrons reach the detectors and the effect of the JET RHS on the neutron monitor response. In addition we performed several sensitivity studies of the effect of substantial massive structures blocking the ports on the external neutron monitor response. As the simplified model provided a qualitative picture of the process only, some calculations were repeated using a more detailed full 3D model of the JET tokamak.
COBISS.SI-ID: 29365799
The power output of fusion experiments and fusion reactor-like devices is measured in terms of the neutron yields which relate directly to the fusion yield. In this paper we describe the devices and methods used to make the new in situ calibration of JET in April 2013 and its early results. The target accuracy of this calibration was 10%, just as in the earlier JET calibration and as required for ITER, where a precise neutron yield measurement is important, e.g., for tritium accountancy. We discuss the constraints and early decisions which defined the main calibration approach, e.g., the choice of source type and the deployment method. We describe the physics, source issues, safety and engineering aspects required to calibrate directly the Fission Chambers and the Activation System which carry the JET neutron calibration. In particular a direct calibration of the Activation system was planned for the first time in JET. We used the existing JET remote-handling system to deploy the 252 Cf source and developed the compatible tooling and systems necessary to ensure safe and efficient deployment in these cases. The scientific programme has sought to better understand the limitations of the calibration, to optimise the measurements and other provisions, to provide corrections for perturbing factors (e.g., presence of the remote-handling boom and other non-standard torus conditions) and to ensure personnel safety and safe working conditions. Much of this work has been based on an extensive programme of Monte-Carlo calculations which, e.g., revealed a potential contribution to the neutron yield via a direct line of sight through the ports which presents individually depending on the details of the port geometry.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28006439
The forthcoming deuterium-tritium (DT) campaign at the Joint European Torus (JET) will induce a significant activation of the system components. In the present work we evaluate the temporal evolution of the radioactive species in the main in-vessel components after the end of the future DT campaign, assuming different levels of neutron irradiation. The neutron flux in the selected components is calculated by the MCNP5 code using the emission source by a typical DT plasma. The resulting neutron spectra are then input to the FISPACT code that computes the evolution of the radioactive species generated by the neutron activation process. For each irradiation scenario, the time behavior of the contact dose rate is determined.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28447527
After the coated CFC wall to ITER-Like Wall (Beryllium/Tungsten/Carbon) transition in 20102011, confirmation of the neutron yield calibration will be ensured by direct measurements using a calibrated 252Cf neutron source deployed by the in-vessel remote handling boom and Mascot manipulator inside the JET vacuum vessel. Neutronic calculations are required to calculate the effects of the JET remote handling (RH) system on the neutron monitors. We developed a simplified geometrical computational model of the JET remote handling system in MCNP. In parallel we developed a script that translates the RH movement data to transformations of individual geometrical parts of the RH model in MCNP. After that a benchmarking of the model was performed to verify and validate the accordance of the target positions of source and RH system with the ones from our model. In the last phase we placed the JET RH system in the simplified MCNP model of the JET tokamak and studied its effect on neutron monitor response for some example source positions and boom configurations. As the correction factors due to presence of the JET RH system can potentially be significant in cases when the boom is blocking a port close to the detector under investigation, we have chosen boom configurations so that this is avoided in the vast majority of the source locations. Examples are given.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26907943