Experimental Validation with CFD Analysis of Radiation Shield Plate for Cryopump Application

Abstract

Cryopump is used in fusion reactor to evacuate the plasma exhaust from the torus vessel and to achieve the ultra high vacuum. The radiation shield is an important part of cryopump as it prevents direct radiation heat load on cryopanels from outer shell. A sample of radiation shield plate was tested for pressure drop and heat transfer. It consists of polished stainless steel sheets which are spot welded in diamond pattern and seam welded at periphery to increase flow path of fluid and hence to increase heat transfer. Experiment on sample radiation shield plate has been conducted with chilled water at a temperature of 280 K. Pressure drop and surface temperature of radiation shield plate was noted down. The radiation shield plate was modeled with CATIA V5, meshed with HYPERMESH and CFD analysis was carried out using ANSYS software. The pressure drop and surface temperature were evaluated from thermal-fluid analysis and results showed good agreement with the corresponding measured values from experiment.