Progress in the KIT approach for development of the HCPB TBM stiffening plate feasibility mock up fabrication

Sub-component manufacturing and assembly concepts for the fabrication of the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed Test Blanket Module have been developed since more than one decade in the KIT. In the present design the structure of the HCPB TBM can be sub-divided into three key components: (i) TBM box, (ii) stiffening plates and (iii) the breeder zone. The present fabrication and assembly routines is based on the assumption that each of the aforementioned sub-components can be assembled in parallel and independently before assembling the TBM. Therefore the procedures to fabricate these sub-components can be addressed in independent tasks. This paper shows the results of the KIT/industry collaboration with the final goal to develop a set of preliminary welding procedure specifications (pWPS) for the assembly of the HCPB TBM stiffening plate. Recently a promising set of draft pWPS could be identified in medium scale fabrication experiments. This paper recalls the results of qualification routines according to ISO 15614-11 (RCC-MR Edition 2007, RS 3570) in order to verify the parameters.