Potential impacts of liquid metal plasma facing components on heating and current drive actuators for a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility

Dataset · Tue Jun 18 04:00:00 EDT 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/HQNLKY· OSTI ID:1881486

Wallace, G. M. ^[1]; Kessel, C. E.; Hosea, J.; Majeski, R.; Wilson, J. R.; Rognlien, T.; Waganer, L. M.

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1. OSTI

This paper addresses the potential impact of liquid metal (LM) plasma facing components (PFCs) for the heating and current drive actuators (H&CD) on the Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) fusion reactor. Fulfilling the high neutron fluence mission of the FSNF requires steady-state operation for extremely long pulses (months to years) between maintenance opportunities. The use of liquid metal as a surface material is one strategy for extending the lifetime of the PFCs for long pulse operation in a high heat flux, high neutron flux environment like that of the FNSF. Liquid metal PFCs provide possible pathways forward on many difficult aspects of a fusion reactor, however the LM PFCs also bring new challenges and unknowns with respect to the H&CD actuators needed to provide steady-state operation. The development of LM compatible materials for RF antennas will be critical, as well as strategies for minimizing contamination of antenna surfaces and the core plasma. Successful deployment of LM PFCs on the FNSF will require operational experience with RF in a liquid metal environment both on test stands and in an integrated toroidal environment.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Plasma Science and Fusion Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• DOE Contract Number: FC02-93ER54186
• OSTI ID: 1881486
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY