Pressurized gas as a driver for Magnetized Target Fusion
Author: Dmitri D. Ryutov
Requested Type: Poster Only
Submitted: 2007-01-01 20:40:50
Co-authors: Y.C.F. Thio
Contact Info:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
7000 East Avenue
Livermore, CA 94551
USA
Abstract Text:
This paper is concerned with a possibility of developing a low-cost driver for magnetized target fusion (MTF). Specifically, storing the primary energy in a high pressure (100 – 300 atm) light gas (hydrogen or helium) is considered. The gas at the initial temperature 600-800 Kelvins can be used as a pusher for a large surface area, low surface density solid or partially molten projectile that will then compress a seed magnetic field in a crushable flux conserver. The mass of the projectile would be 0.5 – 1 kg, and its velocity between 5 and 10 km/s. Optimum shapes for both projectile and the flux conserver are evaluated. It is concluded that the current pulse of 10 – 20 MA can be created, with a rise-time of a few microsecond. These parameters are sufficient to drive a liner that would compress a pre-formed MTF target. The primary energy source will be a low-tech pressurized gas system, which would be able to generate tens of millions of pulses without maintenance to any permanently-installed components. The use of bursting disposable diaphragms may be needed. Two versions of the system are considered. In the first, the reaction chamber would be separated from the crushable magneto-compressive generator, which would serve just as a high-current source and would be connected to the target via disposable transmission line, as suggested in [1]. In the second, the magneto-compressive generator would be integrated with the MTF target enclosed by a local spherical blanket (of the type discussed in Refs. [2, 3]). The whole assembly would be dropped to the reaction chamber, where the projectile launched from outside would hit the flux conserver. In this latter case, all the material of both the target and projectile would be evaporated by a burst of fusion neutrons, eliminating the shrapnel problem. Work performed for the U.S. DoE by UC LLNL under contract # W-7405-Eng-48.
[1] R.W. Moses, R.A. Krakowski, and R.L. Miller. “A Conceptual Design of the Fast-Liner Reactor (FLR) for Fusion Power.” LANL Report LA-7686-MS, February 1979.
[2] B.G. Logan. Fusion Engineering and Design., v. 22, p. 1953, 1993.
[3] D.D. Ryutov, Y.C.F. Thio. Journal of Fusion Energy, 2006, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10894-006-9050-5.
Characterization: D,E10
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