ARIES-RS MAINTENANCE APPROACH FOR HIGH AVAILABILITY

The ARIES-RS tokamak power plant study developed a design approach whi ch has the potential for high availability. One of the keys for high p lant availability is a design that allows rapid replacement of the pow er core sectors. This is achieved by using large maintenance ports for each power core sector, enabling the removal of entire sectors compos ed of inboard and outboard blankets, neutron shields, and upper and lo wer diverters. Another important feature is the location of all connec tions to the cooling system inside the port area and outside the plasm a chamber, avoiding contamination of the chamber by coolant leaks or h andling operations. Any spread of radioactive particles (e.g. tritium or dust) is avoided by the use of flasks for the transfer of used sect ors to the hot cells and return of new or refurbished sectors. It is e stimated that the impact on availability is less than 5% for scheduled maintenance of the power core. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.