Fusion safety experiments in JAERI

Two experimental studies for the thermal-hydraulic safety of fusion reactors, ingress of the coolant events (ICE) and loss of vacuum events (LOVA), have been started as ITER safety sub-tasks for three years since February, 1995. In these researches, as for the ICE experiments, the preliminary ICE apparatus has been completed by the end of September, 1995. On the other hand, as for the LOVA experiments, the preliminary LOVA apparatus that simulated a vacuum vessel of the fusion reactor with a small-scaled model has already been constructed. The buoyancy-driven exchange flow behavior through breaches between the inside (filled with helium gas) and the outside (i.e., air) of the apparatus under the LOVA condition was investigated quantitatively. This paper summarizes the outline of the preliminary ICE and LOVA apparatuses, their experimental contents and research schedules