Mechanical design issues associated with mounting, maintenance, and handling of an ITER divertor

Several designs that address plasma-facing plate configurations and thermal-hydraulic design issues have been developed for the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) divertor. Design criteria growing out of physics requirements, physical constraints, and remote handling requirements impose severe mechanical requirements on the support structure and its attachments. The authors discuss the design criteria for the divertor mounting structure and identify the mechanical design issues that need to be addressed. Achieving the criteria may require the development of new components and innovative configurations, specifically a new class of remote fasteners and electrically resistant material for mounts. The possible design of such components and an R&D program to develop them are described, and issues specific to the high-aspect-ratio design (HARD) configuration are summarized. Analysis and experiments that will resolve these issues and concerns and lead to a final ITER design are identified