Dust collection after the high fluence campaign of the WEST tokamak
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: • Tungsten multiscale dust. • Tungsten layer exfoliation in tokamaks. • Nanoparticles in tokamaks. For Phase 2 of WEST, the lower divertor was entirely equipped with actively cooled ITER grade plasma-facing units made of chains of tungsten beveled monoblocks. In this configuration, dust particles were collected in 2023, after the first plasma campaign mainly dedicated to repetitive long pulses in the conditions of attached plasmas to the divertor. Due to a high particle fluence and a significant tungsten erosion, large quantities of dust were produced. In addition to those produced during off-normal events and the flaking of deposits which are typical of tokamak wall erosion, dust particles due to the flaking of pure tungsten thin layers deposited on the shadowed areas of beveled monoblocks were found. As specific characteristic, these thin layers may not adhere to the divertor and consequently, may be peeled off and mobilized during plasma operation.
Source: Nuclear Materials and Energy
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, Centrale Méditerranée, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Cadarache, Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par confinement Magnétique, Physique des interactions ioniques et moléculaires, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,840
Funders: EUROfusion, European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4405634464