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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
WIPP: Lessons in transportation safety
As part of a future consent-based approach by the federal government to site new deep geologic repositories for nuclear waste, local communities and states that are considering hosting such facilities are sure to have many questions. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the only example of such a repository in operation, and it offers the opportunity for state and local officials to visit and judge for themselves the risks and benefits of hosting a similar facility. But its history can also provide lessons for these officials, particularly the political process leading up to the opening of WIPP, the safety of WIPP operations and transportation of waste from generator facilities to the site, and the economic impacts the project has had on the local area of Carlsbad, as well as the rest of the state of New Mexico.
Hong Ran, Jilai Hou, Binbin Song, Yuncong Huang, Dangshen Zhang, Qinwei Yang, Le Tang, Xiaoqiang Wu, Zen Cao, Lijun Cai
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 80 | Number 1 | January 2024 | Pages 126-136
Note | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2023.2182149
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The vacuum vessel (VV) is one of the main components of the HL-2M tokamak device. It is a thin-shell, all-welded torus made of Inconel 625 material. Maintaining the welding quality and controlling welding distortion are the main manufacturing difficulties. Welding, forming, and assembly are the research focus. This technical note describes the fundamental manufacturing research and development (R&D) and the actual manufacturing procedure of the HL-2M VV. Three stages of R&D work are carried out. The weldability of Inconel 625 plate is studied. Partial and full-scale mock-ups are made. By optimizing the manufacturing process, the HL-2M VV was completed in 2019, and the measurement data meet the design requirements. HL-2M has good vacuum performance, the total leak rate reaches 6.0 × 10−8 Pa·m3/s at room temperature, and the ultimate vacuum pressure reaches 2.4 × 10−6 Pa after baking up to 100°C.
