Electrochemical Repair of Surface Damage for Tungsten Plasma Facing Components (21c)

To enable commercialization of fusion energy in the United States, remotely operated maintenance systems are needed that can extended the lifetime of critical fusion reactor components. A process/tool is being developed for the repair of refractory metal coatings on fusion reactor components. This technology will repair surface damage and erosion on plasma facing components caused by extreme thermal loads. It will be integrated with robotic remote maintenance platforms to enable in-field repair. Experimental work during Phase I will validate the technical feasibility of the repair process for the treatment of surface damaged caused by extreme thermal loads. These experimental results will be used to develop detailed engineering designs for a repair tool prototype (to be built during Phase II). A technology roadmap will be developed to map out critical steps needed prior to demonstration in a fusion relevant environment. Successful development of this robot-operated repair tool will provide commercial fusion companies a method to extend the lifetime of critical reactor components. This will minimize reactor down-time and enable a high degree of availability. Outside of the fusion energy marketplace, the robot-operated process/tool has the potential to benefit other industries where repair work is required in hazardous environments. Potential industrial sectors include space, petrochemical, and nuclear fission.