Facility and site needs for the FIRE project

This paper describes concepts that have been developed for the layout of the FIRE buildings and facilities, and identifies major site requirements. The FIRE test cell, approximately 30×30 meters, is part of a structurally integrated tokamak and hot cell building. The tokamak centerline is set 4.2 m above the floor. Overhead space is sufficient to allow a bridge crane to remove the tie rod structure from the assembled tokamak. FIRE will be designed so that the thick outer wall of the vacuum vessel and the TF coils provide enough shielding so that the exterior of the machine remains accessible for hands-on maintenance. However, during operation and during maintenance activities that require the removal of a port plug additional shielding is required. A movable shield roof, which operates above the tokamak but below the crane, is provided to close the shield boundary during operations. The FIRE facility will have a tritium inventory large enough to require that it must be licensed by the NRC. A non-site-specific plot plan has been developed and is described. The tokamak-hot cell building is placed in the center of the site and arbitrarily oriented so crane rails run north-south, and the hot cell is to the north of the tokamak. Major electrical facilities are located to the west, while vacuum pumping, cooling, and tritium processing facilities are located to the east. Office space is provided for a laboratory staff assumed to be 800. All buildings and facilities are developed assuming a “green-field” site, and costs are estimated accordingly. Site requirements and alternative site selection strategies are described. Savings could be obtained if an existing facility, particularly one where nuclear licensing is already established, could be utilized