Experimental and numerical analyses on LiSO4 and Li2TiO3 pebble beds used in a ITER test blanket module

One of the possible configurations of test blanket module (TBM) which will be tested during the ITER operation phase is made up of neutron multiplier and breeder as pebble beds. This paper describes an experimental device for the determination of the pebble bed conductivity in presence of interstitial air. The tests were performed with a simultaneous compression of the bed in order to obtain the effective bed conductivity versus the axial deformation for several values of the temperature. The effective conductivities of LiSiO4 and Li2TiO3 pebble beds, both in air and in vacuum, were determined. The packing factors of the beds were measured by means an ad hoc built instrumentation, based on the gamma ray backscattering. The experimental results have been compared with those of a theoretical model developed by the authors, obtaining a good agreement in terms of bed conductivity and stiffness.