Capabilities
CHIMERA is designed to test metre scale prototype components in an environment representative of a fusion power plant, including those that will be exposed to the harshest conditions, such as the first wall, blanket, divertor and diagnostic systems.
CHIMERA will simultaneously subject components to:
- High temperatures
- High heat flux
- Static and pulsed magnetic loads
- Thermal cycling, fatigue, creep and other failure modes
- Under vacuum, air or inert gas
Components will be analysed using optical digital image correlation and laser metrology to map 3D surface deformations and damage. These and other techniques can be used to generate and synchronise component digital twins – predictive models and simulations that will be crucial to the design and qualification of future fusion power plants.
Key technical specifications
| Component size | Up to 1.67×0.96×0.46 m3 |
| Testing chamber | Vacuum, air or inert gas |
| Water cooling | 30 – 328°C, up to 155 bar, up to 1000 litre/min |
| Surface heating |
0.5MW/m2 over 1.67×0.46m2 20MW/m2 over 1500mm2 |
| Simulated volumetric heating | 100kW (future: 700 kW) |
| Static magnetic field (horizontal field) | 4 Tesla central, up to 5 Tesla in the test vessel |
| Static magnet technology | Split-pair LHe superconducting magnet with NbTi conductor |
| SC magnet Ramp-up/down time | ~ 12 hours |
| Pulsed magnet (vertical field) | Water cooled copper conductor |
| Magnetic impulse simulating plasma disruption | dB/dt ~ 12 T/s |
Contact
To find out how CHIMERA can assist your future projects contact info@chimera.ukaea.uk.
