First wall issues related with energetic particle deposition in a tokamak fusion power reactor

Energetic particle deposition to the wall due to toroidal magnetic field (TF) ripple was assessed for a 2 GW fusion power reactor. When the present allowance for the loss is applied, the alpha particle flux to the wall can be as high as 2 x 10(18) m(-2) s(-1) in the reactor, eroding tungsten by similar to20 mum per year. The peak particle fluence over a 2-year operation cycle can reach 10(26) m(-2), probably being larger than a critical fluence for blister formation. The result suggests that, for the steady-state tokamak fusion reactor, we should introduce a new design methodology of determining an acceptable level of TF ripple on the basis of particle fluence to the wall, instead of the present one based on a tolerable heat flux. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.