ITER DRIVER BLANKET, EUROPEAN-COMMUNITY DESIGN

Depending on the final decision on the operation time of ITER (Interna tional Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), the Driver Blanket might b ecome a basic component of the machine with the main function of produ cing a significant fraction (close to 0.8) of the tritium required for the ITER operation, the remaining fraction being available from exter nal supplies. The Driver Blanket is not required to provide reactor re levant performance in terms of tritium self-sufficiency. However, reac tor relevant reliability and safety are mandatory requirements for thi s component in order not to significantly affect the overall plant ava ilability and to allow the ITER experimental program to be safely and successfully carried out. Within the framework of the ITER Conceptual Design Activities (CDA, 1988-1990), a conceptual design of the ITER Dr iver Blanket has been carried out by ENEA Fusion Dept., in collaborati on with ANSALDO S.p.A. and SRS S.r.l., and in close consultation with the NET Team and CFFTP (Canadian Fusion Fuels Technology Project). Suc h a design has been selected as EC (European Community) reference desi gn for the ITER Driver Blanket. The status of the design at the end of CDA is reported in the present paper.