THE FEASIBILITY OF A FULLY TRITIUM-COMPATIBLE PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE IN A MAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TOKAMAK FUSION TEST'REACTOR

THIS RESEARCH PROJECT INVOLVES DESIGNING A PIEZOELECTRIC GASINJECTION VALVE WITH TRITIUM COMPATIBILITY TO SURVIVE AND FUNCTION THROUGHOUT THE PROJECTED SERIES OF TOKAMAK FUSION TEST REACTOR TRITIUM-INJECTED DISCHARGES. THE RESEARCH WILLBE DIRECTED TO THE REDESIGN AND MODIFICATION OF AN EXISTING PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE (MV112) TO MAKE A VALVE THAT IS COMPLETELY COMPATIBLE WITH THE TRITIUM USED IN A TOKAMAK FUSION TEST REACTOR. SINCE THE VALVE MUST ALSO BE NON-MAGNETIC, THE RESEARCH WILL ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE MATERIALS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL MAGNETIC AND ORGANIC PARTS IN THE VALVE. A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE RESEARCH WILL BE TO REPLACE THE FLAT VITON SEAL WITH A NEW DESIGN OF TRITIUM-COMPATIBLE BALL MECHANISM. THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS RESEARCH; HOWEVER, THE USE OF A SAPPHIRE OR RUBY BALL MECHANISM LOOKS PROMISING. IF A SATISFACTORY SEATING MECHANISM CAN BE DESIGNED, THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE THREE PROTOTYPE VALVES THAT CAN BE TESTED IN A RADIOACTIVE ENVIRONMENT.