A New Facility for Combined-Load Testing of Fusion Reactor In-Vessel Components

Meeting the challenge of realizing fusion power production will require considerable and increasing investment in facilities for testing and development of fusion technology. Particularly important will be testing of components destined for the harsh in-vessel environment of the reactor. To help address this need, the U.K. Government is investing in major new fusion technology facilities, which will offer integrated laboratories covering the complete development life cycle from materials to manufacturing processes and load testing of components. A major part of these facilities shall be a test device named CHIMERA (combined heating and magnetic research apparatus), offering testing under fusion-relevant loads for meter-scale in-vessel component mock-ups. Among the major challenges addressed are electromagnetic loads, high heat flux (HHF), and proving complex and high-risk manufacturing. The ability to test technology in magnetic fields will be unparalleled and could prove vital for breeding blanket designs featuring a ferromagnetic structural material or a liquid metal breeder. The CHIMERA magnet system uses a split-pair NbTi superconducting magnet, combined with a vertical-axis pulsed resistive solenoid to simulate plasma disruptions. Furthermore, in order to provide semi-integrated testing including possible synergistic effects, CHIMERA will enable tests of resilience against magnetic and thermal loads in combination. The heating systems will deliver at least 0.5 MW/m
²
at the module surface, HHF in localized areas, and power for volumetric heating of a module. This article introduces the CHIMERA device, reports the motivation and technical basis, describes the system specification, and outlines the future plan.