Seamless Pipes in Fusion Reactor Cooling Systems

Fusion reactors, such as ITER, use liquid metal or supercritical water cooling systems, requiring seamless pipes with extreme high-temperature resistance and radiation tolerance.

Material Challenges:

• Neutron Radiation Damage – Causes lattice dislocations, creep, and helium bubble formation.
• High-Temperature Strength Degradation – Operating temperatures exceed 1000°C, leading to material failure.
• Flow-Induced Corrosion – Liquid metals (Li, Pb-Li) aggressively degrade pipe walls.

Seamless Pipe Materials for Fusion Reactors:

• Oxide Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) Alloys (Fe-Cr-Al, MA956) – Excellent radiation resistance.
• Tungsten Alloys (W-Re, W-Cr) – Extreme heat resistance and thermal shock tolerance.
• Silicon Carbide (SiC) Composite Pipes – Low neutron activation, suitable for helium cooling systems.

Advanced Manufacturing Techniques:

• Plasma Arc Melting + Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) – Enhances density and mechanical properties.
• Electron Beam Melting (EBM) – Reduces inclusions and improves radiation resistance.

Applications:

• ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) – Uses ODS alloy seamless pipes for tungsten cladding cooling.
• China’s CFETR (China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor) – Researching SiC composite pipes for future helium cooling systems.