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

Recent progress in design and analysis of the vacuum vessel (VV) for the reduced technical objectives/reduced cost International Thermonuclear Experimental 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 modules 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 wall structure. In addition, a 'tight fitting' configuration is required to correctly position the modules' first wall. Although such modifications of the VV complicate its structure and increase its fabrication cost, the design of the VV is considered to be still feasible. The structural analyses of the VV have been conducted using several FE models of the VV, including global and local models. Although further assessment is required, based on the analyses performed to date, the structural aspects of the VV for the case without the back plate appear feasible. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.