Acceleration of small, light projectiles (including hydrogen isotopes) to high speeds using a two-stage light gas gun
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (USA)
Small, light projectiles have been accelerated to high speeds using a two-stage light gas gun at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. With 35-mg plastic projectiles (4 mm in diameter), speeds of up to 4.5 km/s have been recorded. The pipe gun'' technique for freezing hydrogen isotopes {ital in} {ital situ} in the gun barrel has been used to accelerate deuterium pellets (nominal diameter of 4 mm) to velocities of up to 2.85 km/s. The primary application of this technology is for plasma fueling of fusion devices via pellet injection of hydrogen isotopes. Conventional pellet injectors are limited to pellet speeds in the range 1--2 km/s. Higher velocities are desirable for plasma fueling applications, and the two-stage pneumatic technique offers performance in a higher velocity regime. However, experimental results indicate that the use of sabots to encase the cryogenic pellets and protect them from the high peak pressures will be required to reliably attain intact pellets at speeds of {approx}3 km/s or greater. In some limited tests, lithium hydride pellets were accelerated to speeds up to 4.2 km/s. Also, repetitive operation of the two-stage gun (four plastic pellets fired at {approx}0.5 Hz) was demonstrated for the first time in preliminary tests. The equipment and operation are described, and experimental results and some comparisons with a theoretical model are presented.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6764808
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA) Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 8:3; ISSN 0734-2101; ISSN JVTAD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Development of a two-stage light gas gun to accelerate hydrogen pellets to high speeds for plasma fueling applications
Development of a two-stage light gas gun to accelerate hydrogen pellets to high speeds for plasma fueling applications
Related Subjects
700205* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems
ACCELERATION
FLUID MECHANICS
GUNS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INJECTION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
MECHANICS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
OPERATION
PELLETS
PNEUMATICS
SYNTHESIS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTIONS