Thermal and hydraulic analysis of the cooling system for the ITER equatorial port plugs

Thermo-hydraulic analysis of the equatorial port plug (EPP) is currently being performed by CIEMAT within the framework of the engineering activities related to the ITER port plug diagnostic integration launched by EFDA. This study is focussed on calculating the main hydraulic parameters for the reference cooling circuit, and analyzing different piping configurations, in order to achieve a balanced circuit, this being a key point for obtaining an homogeneous refrigeration of the port plug. It also analyzes the cooling requirements for the Diagnostic Shield Modules (DSM), considering not only the reference circuit design, where the piping cooling circuits run through those parts that need to be cooled, but also a new design proposal which entails a port plug cooling system based on the thermal contact between the DSM and the port plug itself. The overall study represents not only an improvement in the equatorial port plug cooling system design, but also a better understanding of the whole system so as to foresee the weak points that will need to be taken into account in the subsequent detailed design.