Printed Porous Elements for a new Divertor Generation – POREDGE

The POREDGE project aims to develop a new generation of liquid metal-based plasma-facing components (PFCs) using 3D-printed porous lattice structures. These PFCs will have self-healing properties enabled by liquid metal replenishment to address extreme thermal constraints (steady-state or off-normal events). They can be used to develop a new generation of divertor, which is a critical subsystem of a fusion power plant composed of multiple PFCs designed to extract heat and impurities produced by the plasma and which endure 10 MW/m2 heat load in steady-state up to GW/m² during off-normal events (ms). The use of such Capillary Porous Structures (CPS) infiltrated with liquid tin is expected to enhance heat dissipation, improve component durability and reduce maintenance’s cost by increasing fusion power plant availability.
The project consists of five phases: (1) Numerical modeling to simulate heat transfer and liquid tin flow within the porous lattice for optimization purposes; (2) Experimental modeling with polymer lattice structures and Magnetic Resonance Imaging to visualize capillary rise and gas bubble dynamics; (3) Development of tungsten lattice structures using additive manufacturing, with control over local porosity; (4) High heat flux testing to evaluate thermal fatigue and liquid metal replenishment; (5) Plasma testing to assess plasma interactions with the lattice. Ultimately, a representative mock-up will be tested in the WEST tokamak to evaluate its performance under realistic fusion environment.
POREDGE’s innovative use of advanced manufacturing methods will produce highly controlled CPS with enhanced thermal management properties. This research will address current CPS limitations related to pore geometry, capillary flow control, and structural stability under extreme conditions. It aims to pave the way for the development of next-generation PFCs contributing significantly to the emergence of resilient and economically viable fusion power plants.