Stability of the lithium ''WATERFALL'' first wall protection concept for inertial confinement fusion reactors
Uncertainties regarding the feasibility of using an annular ''waterfall'' of liquid lithium to protect the first wall in inertial confinement fusion reactor cavities have prompted a theoretical investigation of annular jet stability. Infinitesimal perturbation techniques are applied to an idealized model of the jet with disturbances acting upon either or both of the free surfaces. Dispersion relations are derived that predict the range of disturbance frequencies leading to instability, as well as the perturbation growth rates and jet breakup length. The results are extended to turbulent annular jets and are evaluated for the lithium waterfall design. It is concluded that inherent instabilities due to turbulent fluctuations will not cause the jet to break up over distances comparable to the height of the reactor cavity.
- Research Organization:
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nuclear Engineering Department, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5537105
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol./Fusion; (United States), Vol. 1:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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FIRST WALL
STABILIZATION
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
ANNULAR FUEL ELEMENTS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
LITHIUM
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLASMA JETS
TURBULENCE
WALL LOADING
ALKALI METALS
CONFINEMENT
ELEMENTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
METALS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POWER DENSITY
REACTOR COMPONENTS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS
700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology