Efficiency of fuel removal techniques tested on plasma-facing components from the TEXTOR tokamak

An overview of several techniques considered for fuel and co-deposits removal is given. The methods were tested both on plasma-facing components from the TEXTOR tokamak and on laboratory-prepared layers: (a) chemical approach based on oxidative or nitrogen-assisted plasma; (b) photonic methods with laser-induced fuel desorption or ablation of co-deposits; (c) thermal desorption in vacuum or under oxidative conditions at a broad range of temperatures. The emphasis is on outstanding issues associated with every technique aiming at the reduction of fuel content: the efficiency of fuel and co-deposit removal, the surface state of PFC following the treatment and dust generation.