Experimental analysis of MHD pressure drop in a HCLL blanket mock-up

One of the blanket concepts that will be tested and validated in the experimental fusion reactor ITER is the helium cooled lead lithium (HCLL) blanket. Experiments have been performed to investigate magneto-hydrodynamic liquid metal flows in scaled mock-up of a HCLL blanket with the aim of determining the pressure drop in various geometric elements of the module and estimating the total pressure head. This knowledge is important for a further improvement of this type of blanket and to ensure its operational capability. Parametric studies have been carried out to assess the influence of flow rate and magnetic field intensity on the pressure distribution.