The Heat by Induction to Verify Extremes (HIVE) facility is a unique test platform that forms part of a suite of testing rigs and facilities at UKAEA.
HIVE supports the advancement of commercialising fusion energy, whilst also providing opportunities throughout the UK for industry collaboration.
HIVE Capabilities
HIVE has a broad range of capabilities including:
- testing prototype cooled and un-cooled components under high heat fluxes in a high vacuum environment
- characterising high temperature behaviour of joining and coating techniques under thermal cycling
- validating thermomechanical, thermo-fluid and control systems modelling using multi-physics virtual engineering and digital twinning technology
- verifying concept designs which use advanced manufacturing technology, specifically to compare conventional and novel processes and materials
- demonstrating advanced diagnostic and instrumentation systems
- developing multi-disciplinary engineering talent through apprentice and graduate placement programs.
- providing versatile design for experiment experience and operational knowledge supporting high heat flux and advanced coolant test platforms
HIVE can be applied to alternative sectors outside of UKAEA and fusion. We have worked with partners spanning academia, research institutes and industry, including the space and aerospace sectors.
Technical details
HIVE is designed for both transient and steady state power pulses onto components, including an adaptable mounting system to support small 30 x 30 x 5 mm ‘tile’ geometries through to larger 120 x 120 x 80 mm prototype components. Supported sample assemblies are typically assessed on a case-by-case basis and a range of configurations can be accommodated.
As standard HIVE includes:
- 45 kW induction heating system
- ~10-15 MW/m2 achievable heat flux (sample geometry dependent)
- 65 VDC, 300A DC power supply alternative for resistance heating options
- 1 x 10-7 mbar vacuum pressure
- 200°C, 20 Bar and up to 80 L/min water coolant supply
- 500 mm diameter vacuum vessel
- modularity to enable inclusion of third- party cooling skids through ‘plug-and-play’ ports
- high performance diagnostics including IR cameras, pyrometers, and digital image correlation, through a range of viewports and viewing angles
- EM Modelling and coil-sample matching
HIVE 2.0
We are building on HIVE’s current performance and design with the enhanced second generation of the facility. This new version will benefit from:
- validation and high cycle testing
- enhanced performance
- higher heat fluxes
- allowance for larger samples and prototypes
- enhanced water coolant parameters
- increased diagnostic performance
- test to failure capability
- integration with advanced coolant loops
Contact HIVE team
If you are interested in accessing this facility, please contact our team.