Support for IFMIF-DONES Project within EUROfusion and the ZMTNDS's Contribution to the Future of Fusion Energy
A research team comprising dr inż. Rafał Michalczyk, dr inż. Kazimierz Józefiak and dr inż. Karol Brzeziński has completed a series of studies (2021–2025) for the international IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented NEutron Source) programme. This work formed part of the Polish contribution to the construction of the research infrastructure in Granada (Spain), and its coordination in Poland was managed by the Sylwester Kaliski Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM).
The objective of the IFMIF-DONES project is to build a neutron source necessary for testing materials for future thermonuclear reactors (such as DEMO). It is a strategic undertaking on the roadmap of European research infrastructure, aimed at realising the vision of clean energy from nuclear fusion. As part of the task titled "Expert assessment about thermal and thermo-structural analyses involved in the TC design", scientists from the Warsaw University of Technology carried out a comprehensive verification of the technical feasibility and safety of the heart of the entire facility – the Test Cell. The work focused on analysing the behaviour of biological shielding and structural components exposed to extreme operating conditions, including high levels of radiation and thermal loads.
Between 2021 and 2025, the team prepared and conducted a series of numerical simulations, which allowed, among other things, for: defining safe cooling strategies for the massive concrete structures that form the reactor's protective barrier; verifying the structural integrity of the cell's protective liner under various operating conditions – from normal operation to extreme emergency scenarios; and developing assembly procedures for heavy shielding elements, where maintaining millimetre tolerances is essential for the tightness and radiological safety of the entire facility.
The conducted research provided essential data, confirming the stability of the designed structure and its resilience to critical situations. The results of this work constitute a foundation for the subsequent stages of the already commenced construction and bring us closer to the commissioning of one of the most important research facilities for the global energy sector.
More information about the project: IFMIF-DONES.ES & YouTube
