First Wall Design of a Tokamak Pilot Plant Using a Monte Carlo Model for 3-D Heat Flux Deposition

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Authors: J. H. Nichols, K Borowiec, J.D. Lore, E.A. Unterberg, J. W. Bae, F. Oz, A. Sircar
Cited by: 1
References: 34

Abstract

We present a method for calculating the heat fluxes deposited on nonaxisymmetric tokamak first wall components, allowing for a first-of-its-kind model for power handling in the tokamak far scrape-off layer (SOL). The DIV3D Monte Carlo model features strict global power conservation and can calculate the finite cross-field plasma transport into magnetically-shadowed regions, which is significant when dealing with meter-scale shadows introduced by components such as poloidal limiters or antennas. As a case study, we apply the DIV3D model to inform the distribution of first wall poloidal limiters in an ARC-class reactor device. We demonstrate that discrete protection limiters can efficiently reduce peak heat fluxes on recessed breeder wall components in the presence of significant far-SOL plasma fluxes. By varying the toroidal periodicity and radial standoff depth of the limiters, we demonstrate one of the tradeoffs that must be considered in first wall design: more limiters provide greater protection, but at the cost of reduced breeding performance. We also present the impact that radial misalignments between limiters would have on first wall power loading.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Magnetic confinement fusion research Fusion materials and technologies Nuclear reactor physics and engineering

Publication details

Journal / source
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Volume
54
Issue
6
Pages
2846–2854
Publication date
7 May 2026