Axisymmetric Tandem Mirror Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls
Abstract
A fusion power plant is described that utilizes a new version of the tandem mirror device including spinning liquid walls. The magnetic configuration is evaluated with an axisymmetric equilibrium code predicting an average beta of 60%. The geometry allows a flowing molten salt, (flibe-Li{sub 2}BeF{sub 4}), which protects the walls and structures from damage arising from neutrons and plasma particles. The free surface between the liquid and the burning plasma is heated by bremsstrahlung radiation, line radiation, and by neutrons. The temperature of the free surface of the liquid is calculated, and then the evaporation rate is estimated from vapor-pressure data. The allowed impurity concentration in the burning plasma is taken as 1% fluorine, which gives a 17% reduction in the fusion power owing to D/T fuel dilution, with F line-radiation causing minor power degradation. The end leakage power density of 0.6 MW/m{sup 2} is readily handled by liquid jets. The tritium breeding is adequate with natural lithium. A number of problem areas are identified that need further study to make the design more self-consistent and workable; however, the simple geometry and the use of liquid walls promise the cost of power competitive with that from fission and coal.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 897945
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-CONF-220919
Journal ID: ISSN 1536-1055; TRN: US200706%%141
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 52; Journal Issue: 3; Conference: Presented at: 17th Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy, Albuquerque, NM, United States, Nov 13 - Nov 15, 2006
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; 74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BREEDING; BREMSSTRAHLUNG; COAL; CONFIGURATION; DILUTION; EVAPORATION; FISSION; FLUORINE; GEOMETRY; LITHIUM; MOLTEN SALTS; NEUTRONS; POWER DENSITY; POWER PLANTS; TANDEM MIRRORS; THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS; TRITIUM; VAPOR PRESSURE
Citation Formats
Moir, R W, and Rognlien, T D. Axisymmetric Tandem Mirror Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls. United States: N. p., 2006.
Web. doi:10.13182/FST07-A1522.
Moir, R W, & Rognlien, T D. Axisymmetric Tandem Mirror Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls. United States. https://doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1522
Moir, R W, and Rognlien, T D. 2006.
"Axisymmetric Tandem Mirror Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls". United States. https://doi.org/10.13182/FST07-A1522. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/897945.
@article{osti_897945,
title = {Axisymmetric Tandem Mirror Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls},
author = {Moir, R W and Rognlien, T D},
abstractNote = {A fusion power plant is described that utilizes a new version of the tandem mirror device including spinning liquid walls. The magnetic configuration is evaluated with an axisymmetric equilibrium code predicting an average beta of 60%. The geometry allows a flowing molten salt, (flibe-Li{sub 2}BeF{sub 4}), which protects the walls and structures from damage arising from neutrons and plasma particles. The free surface between the liquid and the burning plasma is heated by bremsstrahlung radiation, line radiation, and by neutrons. The temperature of the free surface of the liquid is calculated, and then the evaporation rate is estimated from vapor-pressure data. The allowed impurity concentration in the burning plasma is taken as 1% fluorine, which gives a 17% reduction in the fusion power owing to D/T fuel dilution, with F line-radiation causing minor power degradation. The end leakage power density of 0.6 MW/m{sup 2} is readily handled by liquid jets. The tritium breeding is adequate with natural lithium. A number of problem areas are identified that need further study to make the design more self-consistent and workable; however, the simple geometry and the use of liquid walls promise the cost of power competitive with that from fission and coal.},
doi = {10.13182/FST07-A1522},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/897945},
journal = {},
issn = {1536-1055},
number = 3,
volume = 52,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Wed Apr 26 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Equilibrium Pressures over BeF 2 /LiF(Flibe) Molten Mixtures
journal, March 2002
- Olander, Donald R.; Fukuda, Grant T.; Baes, C. F.
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 41, Issue 2
Plasma Engineering for Minimars: A Small Commercial Tandem Mirror Reactor with Octopole Plugs
journal, July 1985
- Perkins, L. J.; Logan, B. G.; Campbell, R. B.
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 8, Issue 1P2A
Dynamics of Liquid-Protected Fusion Chambers
journal, April 2005
- Bardet, Philippe M.; Debonnel, Christophe S.; Freeman, Justin
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 3
A High Vacuum High Speed Ion Pump
journal, May 1953
- Foster, John S.; Lawrence, E. O.; Lofgren, E. J.
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 24, Issue 5
Spheromak Magnetic Fusion Energy Power Plant with Thick Liquid-Walls
journal, September 2003
- Moir, R. W.; Bulmer, R. H.; Fowler, T. K.
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 44, Issue 2
Application of the “K–ε” model to open channel flows in a magnetic field
journal, March 2002
- Smolentsev, Sergey; Abdou, Mohamed; Morley, Neil
- International Journal of Engineering Science, Vol. 40, Issue 6
The kinetic stabilizer: Issues and opportunities
journal, September 2002
- Post, R. F.
- Plasma Physics Reports, Vol. 28, Issue 9
Transition from Pastukhov to collisional confinement in a magnetic and electrostatic well
journal, August 1980
- Rognlien, T. D.; Cutler, T. A.
- Nuclear Fusion, Vol. 20, Issue 8
Sheath superheat transmission due to redeposition of thermally emitted material
journal, June 2000
- Brooks, J. N.; Naujoks, D.
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 7, Issue 6
Combined sheath and thermal analysis of overheated surfaces in fusion devices
journal, March 2001
- Naujoks, D.; Brooks, J. N.
- Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 290-293
Thermal Modeling of the Sandia Flinabe (LiF-BeF 2 -NaF) Experiments
journal, April 2005
- Nygren, R. E.
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 3
Thick Liquid-Walled, Field-Reversed Configuration-Magnetic Fusion Power Plant
journal, March 2001
- Moir, R. W.; Bulmer, R. H.; Gulec, K.
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 39, Issue 2P2
Views on Neutronics and Activation Issues Facing Liquid-Protected IFE Chambers
journal, April 2005
- El-Guebaly, L.
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 47, Issue 3
The “Kinetic Stabilizer”: A Simpler Tandem Mirror Configuration?
journal, January 2001
- Post, Richard F.
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 39, Issue 1T
Thermo-Physical Properties and Equilibrium Vapor-Composition of Lithium Fluoride-Beryllium Fluoride (2LiF/BeF 2 ) Molten Salt
journal, September 2003
- Zaghloul, Mofreh R.; Sze, Dai Kai; Raffray, A. René
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 44, Issue 2
Interchange, rotational, and ballooning stability of long-thin axisymmetric systems with finite-orbit effects
journal, January 1986
- Cohen, Bruce I.; Freis, Robert P.; Newcomb, William A.
- Physics of Fluids, Vol. 29, Issue 5
The Kinetic Stabilizer: Further Calculations and Options
journal, January 2003
- Post, Richard F.
- Fusion Science and Technology, Vol. 43, Issue 1T
Impurity transport in edge plasmas with application to liquid walls
journal, May 2002
- Rognlien, T. D.; Rensink, M. E.
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 9, Issue 5