Design optimization and fabrication method development for the HCCP TBM shield considering manufacturability

• For confirming Design Optimization and Fabrication Method Development for the HCCP TBM Shield Considering Manufacturability, the followings are performed. • A simplified HCCP TBM shield design has been proposed to improve manufacturability. • This new design reduces the number of reinforcing plates required while maintaining structural integrity. • Thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanical analyses confirmed compliance with ITER limits. • The redesigned internal geometry facilitates visual and UT inspection. The Helium Cooled Ceramic Pebble (HCCP) Test Blanket Module (TBM) is being co-designed in a Korean-EU collaboration. The HCCP TBM set consists of a TBM box and a TBM shield. This study aims to investigate the manufacturing process and propose a simplified manufacturing method to facilitate the fabrication of the HCCP TBM shield. The HCCP TBM shield structure comprises five blocks with piping connections consisting of water inlet/piping, helium inlet/piping, purge gas inlet/piping, and NAS I&C piping that run through these five blocks and connect to the TBM manifold. The existing Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) TBM shield design includes multiple reinforcement plates, which pose challenge in welding and inspection. In this study, we proposed a simplified internal structure for the existing HCPB TBM shield, evaluated its structural soundness through thermal-hydraulic and thermo-mechanical analyses, and suggested a new fabrication method that reduces the number of reinforcement plates to improve fabrication convenience while maintaining the structural integrity of the existing design.