A Research on computation fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize the designing of flow straightener of IFMIF/EVEDA liquid Lithium target assembly

Fujishiro, Koji; Ida, Mizuho; Groeshel, F.*; Kondo, Hiroo; Wakai, Eiichi  ; Sugimoto, Masayoshi

International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) is a high-intensity neutron source that simulates fusion neutron (14 MeV), and is being planned aiming at the development of fusion reactor materials. Since 2007, Engineering Varidation and Engineering Design Activities (EVEDA) has been promoted in cooperation with Japan and Europe. In the target assembly, the requirement onto each difficulties are exist (i.e. form a stable lithium jet: thickness 25 with 2 mm accuracy, nozzle exit velocity 20 m/s under high vacuum (10 Pa]) condition), and multi-focused countermeasures has been made. In this study, Flow Straightener which plays an important role for the stability of the lithium jet and which is designed and manufactured for EVEDA test facility, was evaluated under negative pressure environment using code FLUENT. The Flow Straightener has a shape conversion unit, a honeycomb and some porous plates. According the result of this analysis, it was found that the rectification properly of Flow Straightener is obtained as the function of the distance with the nozzle inlet and the most-downstream perforated plate, and was found that commutation state is obtained to adjust this length.