PIE Needs and Relevant Facilities at Cadarache

1
PIE Needs and Relevant Facilities at Cadarache

• Coordinated and Presented by
• Alice Ying

With contributions from J. Furlan, V. Massaut,
Y. Poitevin, S. Reyes, A. Tesini, M. Youssef, and
WSG members
TBWG-16 Nov. 17 2005 Beijing, China
2
Assumptions

• Parties believe that the post-irradiation
  examination (PIE) of the test blanket module
  (TBM) is an important part of the testing
  program.
• It has been recommended that an Annex be included
  to the ITER Hot Cell for TBM PIE and be located
  close to the ITER HCB or near ITER.
• The TBWG has highlighted that such an enterprise
  can be a collaborative effort between the parties
  and encouraged a prior agreement and official
  framework concerning the items of intellectual
  property to be established.

3
TBM PIE Scenarios (Revised)
Scenario

1. TBM shipped back to the country of origin or
   partner party after testing in ITER
2. Specimen Preparation PIE
3. Specimen Preparation Only (PIE done at the host
   country)
4. Specimen Preparation limited PIE at ITER site
   (i.e., ceramic breeder pebble bed integrity)

• Have not reached a recommended reference scenario
  to TBWG on TBWG 16
• However, most WSG task leaders favor option 4
  and/or option 2

4
Is it practically feasible to transport the
entire TBM back to the country of origin?

• Transfer to the country of origin transportation
  provision will have to conform to the
  international transport regulations. Casks
  licensed to transport tritium (in bottles) exist
  for small specimens, at least, so that it seems
  to be possible either to extend their content to
  the tritiated spices (in a primary container ?)
  and to design a proper adapted cask.

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ONEDANT Transport Model for Dose Calculations
Goal to estimate thickness of steel and/or lead
needed to reduce the cask surface does rate to 2
micro-Sv/h

• Due to the time constraint, Gamma ray transport
  calculations were performed only for the
  dominating radioactive element of Mn54 found in
  the ferritic steel (half life time 1 year)

PbLi was drained out of the TBM before
transportation. The model includes the W armor,
the FS structures and the SiC layers.
Figure shows the neutronics model for the case of
20 cm of lead shielding within a 2 cm of
steel The dose has been tallied in the first cm
of air around the case, we have used the highest
dose value in the air zone that is closer to the
FW (left side of the figure)
DCLL TBM structures
2 cm thick steel case
20 cm lead
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• Two shielding concepts investigated, one uses
  only a steel case of various thicknesses around
  the TBM
• Another case assumes a 2 cm thick steel
  container filled with lead shielding at
  different thicknesses
• In the case of steel, 40 cm are needed to reduce
  the dose below 2 ?Sv/hr (mass of container
  9 tonnes)
• In the second case Pb thickness of 20 cm would
  reduce the dose below the allowed limit (total
  mass of steel case and Pb shielding 5 tonnes)

7
TBM Cooling may not be an issue after 1 day after
shutdown (DCLL)
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Issues Concerning TBM Transports

• Transfer of TBM parts towards other facilities
  should be submitted to constraints such as
• use of casks approved to circulate on public road
  networks (even from ITER to Cadarache centre),
• specific TBM content (including Beryllium)
  included in the approved content of these casks,
• acceptance of possible tritium outgassing during
  transportation,
• capability of ITER to dock those casks.

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Outline

• Relevant PIE Facilities at Cadarache
• PIE Needs
• Review of Basic Operational Procedure/ Processes
  Involved in PIE
• Route to Reference Scenario Definition
• Schedule
• Operational Procedure
• PIE Categories
• Criteria?
• Burdens

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Relevant Facilities at Cadarache LECA-STAR

• This facility is dedicated to irradiated fission
  fuel studies. It offers a large panel of means
  and long experience related to preparation and
  examination of experimental devices. That is to
  say, roughly
• numerous hot cells, including large ones (up to 9
  m x 3 m),
• heavy loads handling (up to 60 t in the facility
  and 2 t in the hot cells),
• adapted in-cell tools (fine visual inspection,
  cutting (fine coarse), welding, scientific
  equipments for structural examination, )
• a team of experienced experts.

A half-port TBM weighs 2 t
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Relevant Facilities at Cadarache CHICADE

• This facility deals with chemical and
  characterization studies of nuclear wastes. It
  offers tools for destructive and non-destructive
  survey and for radiochemical analyses.
• Main basic equipments are various shielded
  containments, a hot cell (so-called ALCESTE 7 m
  x 6 m) and usual means to operate (heavy loads
  handling, up to 15 t in the facility, depending
  of the zone).
• The facility, whose aim is different, has not
  well adapted means nor experience to deal with
  the requirements.

• Can this facility be used to accommodate any
  unscheduled PIE? For example, can it be used as a
  temporary storage until ITER HC becomes
  available?

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Facilities at Cadarache Summary

• LECA-STAR has capacity to handle, dismantle and
  sample large objects prior to performing
  experimental tasks. Structural examination
  equipments and know-how are available too but are
  dedicated to irradiated fission fuel.
• CHICADE offers hot surfaces and volumes but has
  no experimental means well-adapted to the
  requirements.

Need to know the sample size of the large objects
LECA-STAR Facility
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Action Items

• TBWG should take actions to finalize a reference
  scenario (as well as an alternative if necessary)
• Further study is scenario dependent, involving
  the concerned units staffs in Cadarache.
• WSG members to define Coarse cutting
  specifications/requirements precision,
  complexity, etc.
• So that ITER can, in future, try to take TBM
  requirements for a best compromise for a cutting
  machine.
• Or a cutting technique specific for the TBM.

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What is the most pressing issue?

• It should be noted that ITER site layout,
  including the nuclear buildings, will be
  finalized in 2006 so any TBM/PIE/HC relevant
  issue which may impact the layout (HC and any
  additional annex and relevant site services, in
  particular) should be addressed soon by the TBWG.
  
• Per email message of Tesini to Ying dated Oct.
  25, 2005

• Related immediate issue/action
• Establish PIE reference scenario including flow
  path and associated operations
• Recommend alternative option

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Scenario A

• Per email message of Tesini to Ying dated Oct.
  25, 2005

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If TBMs transportation outside the ITER boundary
can be an issue

• With regard to PIE, possible component flow path
  could be
• a) TBM is removed from plug within the ITER HC,
  packaged in suitable shielded container (safety,
  Tritium, transport issues to be addressed)
• b) TBM is delivered to LECI-PELECI facility
  unless the on-site LECA-STAR can handle the TBM's
  (for which Jackie's memo quotes 2 ton max
  handling capacity). If possible (for size,
  availability) usage of the LECA-STAR facility
  appears preferable as it may help relax the TBM's
  transportation issue (within the same site)

Concerning the heavy loads handling, just one
point to avoid confusion In the hot labs there
are generally two families of heavy loads
handling means those used to handle the casks
(outside the hot cells) able to lift several tens
of tons (60 t in LECA-STAR), and those dedicated
to handle things inside the hot cells (2 t in
LECA-STAR). (if it is possible to assume that
ITER site Cadarache centre belong to the same
site, avoiding transportation on the public
roads, constraints should still remain, but they
should be lighter on the cask's design and
licensing).
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• Concern
• It should be noted that ITER site layout,
  including the nuclear buildings, will be
  finalized in 2006 so any TBM/PIE/HC relevant
  issue which may impact the layout (HC and any
  additional annex and relevant site services, in
  particular) should be addressed soon by the TBWG.
  
• Minimum Request to ITER HC Regarding the
  capability of ITER HC to dock those casks
• Space required for packaging six irradiated
  half-port modules in suitable shielded containers
  (safety,Tritium, transport issues to be
  addressed)
• Space and tools needed to accommodate above
  operations
• Tools
• Overhead crane and forklift/scissor jack with
  rail for transferring TBM from port plug to
  shielded container
• Water cooling systems to remove decay heat (may
  be necessary before one month after shutdown)
• Space space for 6 shielded containers

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Scenario B

• per Furlans memo to Ying dated on Aug. 22, 2005

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If a half-port size TBMs transportation outside
the ITER boundary can be an issue

• Dismantle TBM previously in ITER hot cells,
  producing medium size pieces.
• The next step, needing accurate visual inspection
  (corrosion cracks identification) and accurate
  cutting methods, could be performed in a CEA hot
  lab if not feasible in ITER.
• This precise sampling of medium size specimens
  could be performed in Cadarache (LECA-STAR or
  CHICADE). Then the samples could be dispatched
  from there to hot labs or to the Party if
  requested, using small size casks.

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Further details on the capabilities of facilities
near Cadarache

• Handling of materials containing tritium in the
  facilities the question is to know the amount of
  tritium which could be released (in the vent
  system). Up to now the facilities are allowed to
  make controlled releases, provided they remain
  lower than a maximum yearly activity limit.  If
  needed a demand to increase the limits may be
  made (probably in the frame of the whole site).
• Measure of residual tritium my knowledge is
  there are no adequate existing equipments in the
  Cadarache hot cells up to now (but it seems to be
  possible to design specific equipments).
• Additional
• Tests in CEA Saclay in the LECI lab the whole
  panel of physical, chemical, mechanical
  examinations testing of irradiated samples is
  available, so it is for the samples preparation
  (examples machining of tensile strength samples,
  EBM samples  ...).
•  

21
Approximate weights of various TBM (preliminary)
HH DD Earlier DT Low duty cycle DT High duty cycle DT
Port 2 Water-cooled ceramic breeder TBM 1990 kg
Port 16 He-cooled ceramic breeder TBM 1905 kg
Port 18 DCLL 1100 kg (after PbLi drained)
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In Tesinis view, even coarse cutting in ITER HC
is nearly impossible
Facilities at Cadarache with upgrade to handle
tritium
ITER HC
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Disassembly and coarse sectioning cell

• Shielded, tritium proof containing cell
• Being able to operate on ½ port test blanket
  modules
• A remotely operated screw driver, laser beam
  cutter, precision saw, vise, and manipulator will
  be utilized for cutting open TBMs to remove
  sub-assemblies and specimen packets
• Need collectors for receiving pebbles

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Concerns of using relevant facilities at Cadarache

• Of course a peer review should be made in order
  to check the feasibility of the requested
  operations in the various facilities, in
  particular concerning safety (activity and
  shielding, tritium and other species content,
  Beryllium, ).
• If Tritium measurements were required a specific
  feasibility should have to be launched, although
  LECI had to deal with in the framework of a past
  programme.
• An other point to check is the remaining life
  time of the facilities (or parts of them) with
  regard of the TBM programme schedule.

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There are benefits of performing PIE near ITER
site

• PIE such as tritium reconstruction, tritium
  recovery from ceramic breeder and beryllium
  pebble beds
• PIE on ceramic breeder pebble bed packing state
  and integrity

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Performing PIE at the partys site is also
desirable

• It is in the interest of the material community
  to study the irradiation effect even at the low
  doses
• Most likely, full PIE hot cell facilities are
  available in the Party

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• 1 - As correctly observed by Yves, it should be
  demonstrated that even the TBM's initial, coarse
  cutting operations can be satisfactorily carried
  out inside the ITER Hot Cell.
• 2 - Even if this is possible, we should carefully
  consider the relative influence of the TBM's
  coarse cutting and ITER Hot Cell operations on
  the overall TBM experimental programme
• a) the ITER HC is temporarily available but there
  is no TBM's to cut
• b) TBM's are ready for cutting but the ITER HC is
  busy with higher priority operations
• 3 - The above TBM/HC requirements/availability
  situation will worsen if the TBM's are coming
  into the ITER HC a) frequently and/or b) in high
  number. This situation is directly linked with
  the overall TBM's experimental programme and
  should be carefully considered by the TBWG

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• (1)   Is it possible to handle structural and
  breeder materials which contain tritium (within
  the facilities in Cadarache)? If not, what kind
  of facility modification is needed to do that in
  the hot cell in Cadarache?(2)   Is it possible
  to measure the residual tritium in breeder and
  multiplier pebbles (within the facilities in
  Cadarache)?  (3)   Is it possible to transfer
  breeder and multiplier materials, which contain
  tritium, to the country of origin? (related to
  smaller, more manageable specimens) Is there any
  authorized appropriate cask available? Can we
  assume no tritium leak during transportation?(4)
     What kind of test piece can be made in CEA
  Saclay?  What kind of tests can be performed?

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• Visual inspection and metrology associated with
  deformation measurement of the whole TBM, as well
  as TBM dismantling producing medium size pieces
  is performed in ITER hot cells.The next step,
  needing accurate visual inspection (corrosion
  cracks identification) and accurate cutting
  methods, could be performed in a CEA hot lab if
  not feasible in ITER. This precise sampling of
  medium size specimens could also be performed in
  Cadarache (LECA-STAR or CHICADE).Then the
  samples could be dispatched from there to hot
  labs LECI-PELECI in Saclay for mechanical tests
  and metallographic examinations or to the Party
  if requested, using small size casks.