Abstract

The next phase in the EU’s ambitious nuclear fusion power generation project is the construction of a DEMOnstration powerplant. This represents the first step towards the creation of a commercial power plant and is drawing on the combined efforts of large teams of scientists and engineers across various research units. This article describes the Multiphysics optimization procedure undertaken to ensure the best compromise between electromagnetic and structural compliance for the Toroidal Field coils of the Advanced Divertor Configurations of the toroidal chamber, that holds the plasma in which the fusion reaction takes place. The TF coils are subjected to enormous Lorentz forces that are transferred to robust steel casings that hold the TF coils in place. It has been learnt that these casings should perform the dual function of shaping the super-conducting loops appropriately, and bearing the loads within a reasonable margin of safety. However, preliminary stress analyses revealed that their initial shape had structural deficiencies. FEM analyses and mesh morphing were used to optimize the shapes to the best compromise between the two functions.