Our client approached Technetics to develop a seal and optimized assembly concept for a maintenance plan to manage the Tokamak port cells for their DEMO fusion reactor. This is no small feat.
The next-generation DEMOnstration power plant, or DEMO, is “an industry- and technology-driven program, a key criterion for DEMO is the production of electricity,” according to its designers.
Our client approached Technetics to develop a seal and optimized assembly concept for a maintenance plan to manage the Tokamak port cells for their DEMO fusion reactor. This is no small feat as the seal’s performance is required to:
Failure is not an option as it would result in the escape of radioactive materials — causing negative consequences to human health and the environment — and an unstable reactor core, which would cause substantial damage to the Tokamak’s walls.
Clearly, the client needs industry-leading experts, and Technetics is up for the challenge.
Port cells serve as confinement barriers to shield the environment from radiation generated by the reactor. The cells, made of specially formulated concrete, oppose the passage of neutrons and contamination. As important as it is to keep the radiation confined, it’s equally essential that the port cells are accessible to allow maintenance and repairs of the interior reactor.
Thanks to collaboration with the CEA, Technetics is working to solve these demanding technical challenges to enhance the project’s performance and longevity in many ways. For instance, Technetics provides various engineering solutions to develop and maintain vacuum chamber sealing as well as designing and developing specific components for the reactor, such as vacuum seals.
We steadily provide ultra-high vacuum, irradiation, tritium environment, and remote handling solutions throughout the program. Our engineers develop safety systems, cycle systems, and maintenance services to ensure the solutions are performing correctly. Additionally, we are committed to a complete, all-around engineering study and analysis for the four years of the program.
Technetics delivers our premier sealing service to the technological innovations involved in our client’s new DEMO Power Plant. This project requires the best hands to gather top-quality technologies to develop a ground-breaking fusion reactor, and we deliver our seals and maintenance for the Tokamak port cells.
Now, our client has a safe and efficient DEMO fusion reactor, allowing them to focus on the primary goal of the technology: producing electricity.
At Technetics, we welcome challenging projects and enjoy finding solutions to meet our customers’ needs. Ready to start your partnership? Contact us today.
In this webinar, we discuss the challenges and the hydrogen-related R&D applications where Technetics has already been involved since 2006, including solid oxide fuel cells, high-temperature electrolysis, proton exchange membrane fuel cells and more. Prepare to learn about the challenges and solutions for this exciting green energy source, hydrogen.
Key Takeaways:
The desire to move to sustainable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions is growing exponentially. Low-cost renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, hydro) are being developed and deployed worldwide.
There have been advancements in the research and development of clean energy sources. Hydrogen has been identified as a potential green energy source.
As the world shifts its focus to decarbonization initiatives, research shows responsible leaders will pour more technology and infrastructure into the hydrogen production economy to provide clean, carbon-free energy storage.
The HELICOFLEX® seal is a high performance, flexible metal seal that has exceptional compression and elastic recovery properties. This seal is composed of a close wound helical spring surrounded by one or more metal jackets. The spring is designed to have a specific compression resistance. During compression, the resulting specific pressure forces the jacket to yield and fill the flange imperfections while ensuring positive contact with the flange sealing faces. Each coil of the helical spring acts independently and allows the seal to conform to surface irregularities on the flange surface.
HELICOFLEX® design flexibility allows Technetics engineers to customize the seal characteristics to match each unique application.
Increase the overall sealing performance of your installations with TEXEAL®, the new patented texturing process, applied to HELICOFLEX®, which is already the resilient metal seal standard for high-performance sealing. HELICOFLEX® TEXEAL® can help reduce operating costs during maintenance. It is a material innovation developed from decades of established sealing expertise.
• Optimize overall cost of assembly during design phase
• Reduce overall operating cost
• MTBF (mean time before failure) increase
• LCC (life cycle cost) decrease
• Optimize sealing performance without increasing of the
tightening force (up to 10-12 Pa.m3.s-1)
• Lower stress on the assembly with the same tightness level
• Maintain sealing performance during thermal cycles
• Adaptable to a wide range of assembly dimensions
• Adaptable to groove sealing surfaces
• Large selection of materials
• Corrosion resistant
• Nuclear Power Generation: reactor pressure vessels closure head, control rod mechanisms (CRDM), reactor coolant pumps (RCP), pressurizers, steam generators, spent fuel casks
• New energies: molten salt & solar plants, SMR
• Semiconductors: chamber, exhaust and other applications in PVD/CVD/etch and lithography processes
• Valves: body/bonnet sealing, seat sealing
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