Repairing a surface of a divertor or first wall in a tokamak via deposit of refractory metal while maintaining a vacuum
AssigneeTokamak Energy Ltd
InventorsRobert Bamber, Mike Jackson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of repairing a divertor or first wall surface in a tokamak plasma vessel. The divertor or first wall surface comprises a refractory metal having a melting point of at least 2000° C. A pressure of less than 25 mbar is maintained within the plasma vessel following the end of operation of the plasma vessel. The refractory metal is deposited onto the divertor or first wall surface within the plasma vessel via a deposition process which is one of: additive manufacturing; physical vapour deposition; thermal spray; arc ion plating; diode laser cladding; and chemical vapour deposition.
Claims19
A method of repairing a divertor or first wall surface in a tokamak, the tokamak comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a vacuum maintenance system configured to maintain a pressure of less than 25 mbar within the vacuum chamber;
- a first wall and a divertor within the vacuum chamber, each having a surface comprising a refractory metal having a melting point above 2000° C.;
- and
- a refractory metal deposition system comprising:
- a refractory metal source;
- a heating system;
- and
- a positioning system, the method comprising:
- the vacuum maintenance system maintaining a pressure of less than 25 mbar within the vacuum chamber during suspension of operation of the tokamak;
- during the suspension of operation of the tokamak, depositing the refractory metal of the refractory metal source onto the divertor or first wall surface via a deposition process comprising:
- operating the positioning system to position at a target area of the first wall surface or the divertor surface each of:
- a portion of the refractory metal of the refractory metal source;
- and
- the heating system;
- and
- operating the heating system to melt the portion of the refractory metal;
- thereby depositing the portion of the refractory metal against the target area.
A tokamak comprising:
- a vacuum chamber;
- a vacuum maintenance system configured to maintain a pressure of less than 25 mbar within the vacuum chamber during suspension of operation of the tokamak;
- a first wall and a divertor within the vacuum chamber, each having a surface comprising a refractory metal having a melting point above 2000° C.;
- and
- a refractory metal deposition system comprising:
- a refractory metal source;
- a heating system configured to heat a portion of the refractory metal of the refractory metal source;
- a positioning system configured to position the heating system and the portion of the refractory metal of the refractory metal source to any region of the first wall surface or the divertor surface;
- a controller configured to function during the suspension to:
- operate the positioning system to position at a target area of the first wall surface or the divertor surface each of:
- a portion of the refractory metal of the refractory metal source;
- and
- the heating system;
- and
- operate the heating system to melt the portion of the refractory metal;
- thereby depositing the portion of the refractory metal against the target area during the suspension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.