Tritium breeding performance of a DEMO based on the Double Null divertor configuration

Abstract Different design modifications of a Double Null (DN) DEMO were analysed by means of 3D Monte Carlo calculations using the MCNP code to assess the effect of a DN divertor configuration and various in-vessel components (IVC) on the tritium breeding performance. A simplified DN DEMO model was set up to this end. A Tritium Breeding Ratio (TBR) of 1.14 was obtained with this model for the HCPB breeder blanket concept without taking into account any auxiliary equipment such as limiters or port plugs. The inclusion of such design modifications results in a significant reduction of the TBR for different breeder blanket concepts. To compensate the loss of breeder space in the reactor either the integration of breeder materials in the divertor body or the enlargement of the available breeder zone could be considered. Both of these options can provide an increase of the TBR and ensure a sufficient margin for a DN DEMO with a HCPB breeder blanket. Meeting the TBR requirement with a Pb-Li based breeder blanket concept would be more challenging and requires significant changes to the overall IVC configuration.