Lithium Experimental Application Platform (LEAP): a step forward to reactor-scale liquid metal Plasma-Facing Components studies

Flowing liquid lithium Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) offer significant improvements in plasma stability for fusion devices and solutions for heat and particle fluxes, erosion, impurity extraction, fuel recycling, and enabling access to low-recycling regimes that could shrink reactor size. Despite these benefits, challenges persist in understanding the lithium safety and material properties, liquid metal flow stabilities, and implementing lithium plumbing systems in fusion reactors. The development of robust liquid lithium flowing and handling systems with a reactor-scale lithium inventory requires experimental platforms to prototype and test various designs of liquid lithium PFCs. Designed as a large-scale (∼ 3m × 2m × 2m) modularized glovebox system filled with Argon during operation, the Lithium Experimental Application Platform (LEAP) aims to provide a flexible and versatile liquid lithium testing facility at PPPL with a 50lb (22.68kg) inventory under reactor-like magnetic fields and heating as an end goal. LEAP is designed to meet national safety standards and supports the development of new liquid metal PFC concepts that can be integrated into fusion reactors, thereby accelerating the integration of liquid lithium in fusion technology.