Advanced Exhaust Solutions and Liquid Metal PFCs for Tokamak Energy's Fusion Pilot Plant

Tokamak Energy’s fusion pilot plant, ST-E1, pre-concept design efforts have included an in-depth look at the requirements of ST-E1’s PFCs. This submission presents an overview of the solid PFC reference case with a focus on liquid metal divertor design efforts. Pilot plant power exhaust assumptions include 70% core radiation and an estimated λ_q of 0.9 - 4.1mm. SOLPS results from a double null scenario yield an outer divertor target heat flux larger than 20 MW/m². These results require that a radiative scenario is implemented in the case of a solid divertor to mitigate heat flux through argon and/or neon seeding for detachment. Liquid metals, specifically lithium, provide a promising alternative to traditional divertor design. A free-surface, fast flow (>1 m/s) lithium divertor concept is being explored for the pilot plant. Such a design is expected to sufficiently handle the ~20 MW/m² steady-state heat flux while simultaneously improving plasma performance and extending component lifetimes when compared to solid PFCs. An overview of Tokamak Energy’s liquid metal design concept selection process and ongoing small-scale experimental design efforts will be presented.