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Progress Toward a Compact Fusion Reactor Using the Sheared-Flow-Stabilized Z-Pinch

Journal Article · · Fusion Science and Technology
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  1. Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
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The sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch is a promising confinement concept for the development of a compact fusion reactor. The Z-pinch has been theoretically and experimentally shown to be stable to magnetohydrodynamic modes when sufficient radial shear of the axial flow is present. At the University of Washington, the Fusion Z-pinch Experiment (FuZE) research project examines scaling the SFS Z-pinch toward fusion conditions. The FuZE device produces long-duration, 50-cm-long pinches with measured ion and electron temperatures over 1 keV and number densities greater than 1017 cm –3 . Plasma properties are measured with a diagnostic suite that includes magnetic field probes, heterodyne quadrature interferometry, digital holographic interferometry, ion-Doppler spectroscopy, and fast framing photography. Neutrons are produced in the FuZE device when deuterium is injected along with the normal hydrogen or helium fueling species. Neutron generation is diagnosed using plastic scintillator detectors. The neutron production is sustained for 5 to 8 μs, thousands of times longer than the static Z-pinch instability growth time. We report measured neutron production is consistent with calculated theoretical values for thermonuclear yield at the observed plasma temperatures and scales with the square of the deuterium concentration. A preliminary reactor concept is designed to incorporate flowing liquid metal walls, which would serve as an electrode, a heat transfer fluid, a radiological shield, and a breeding blanket. Using a liquid metal wall could address several unresolved material and technology issues in existing fusion reactor designs.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); Weizmann Institute of Science
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1632373
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--811187; 1018024
Journal Information:
Fusion Science and Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Science and Technology Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 75; ISSN 1536-1055
Publisher:
American Nuclear SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (22)

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Figures / Tables (9)

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TABLE I(p. 10)table TABLE I
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Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Z-pinch
alternative fusion concept
compact fusion reactor
neutron production