Design and analysis of the vacuum vessel for RTO/RC-ITER

Recent progress in design and analysis of the vacuum vessel (VV) for the re duced technical objectives/reduced cost International Thermonuclear Experim ental Reactor (RTO/RC-ITER) is presented. The basic VV design is similar to the previous ITER VV. However, because the back plate for the blanket modu les could be eliminated, its previous functions could be transferred to the VV. For this option, the blanket modules are supported directly by the VV and the blanket coolant channels are structurally part of the VV double wal l structure. In addition, a 'tight fitting' configuration is required to co rrectly position the modules' first wall. Although such modifications of th e VV complicate its structure and increase its fabrication cost, the design of the VV is considered to be still feasible. The structural analyses of t he VV have been conducted using several FE models of the VV, including glob al and local models. Although further assessment is required, based on the analyses performed to date, the structural aspects of the VV for the case w ithout the back plate appear feasible. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.