Possibilities for magnetic control of fission plasma propulsion
Magnetic fusion energy research suggests the use of some magnetoplasma configurations to address certain critical issues in the gas-core fission approach to nuclear-thermal propulsion. The general framework of such an investigation that was outlined in a previous paper is directed here at the spheromak configuration in greater detail. In some unoptimized examples, the authors explore the compatibility of gas-core fission reactor criticality conditions with the dynamo action needed to non-inductively sustain the spheromak. The Lundquist number S is identified as a figure of merit, and is estimated by modeling to be as large as 100 in near-critical uranium ({sup 233}U) plasmas of several-meter dimensions diluted with lithium ({sup 7}Li) when the spheromak power consumption is treated as a constraint; whereas S as small as 200 is observed to be still able to preserve MHD dynamo activity in 3D resistive MHD simulations. Further optimization studies are required to ascertain whether these two values can be made to coincide.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 102233
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-95-2674; CONF-950720-11; ON: DE95016975; TRN: 95:020464
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: AIAA/SAE/ASME joint propulsion conference and exhibit, San Diego, CA (United States), 10-12 Jul 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FISSIONING PLASMA
MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT
SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS
DESIGN
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
URANIUM 233
LITHIUM 7
GAS FUELED REACTORS
HYBRID SYSTEMS
PLASMA SIMULATION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
THEORETICAL DATA
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
HEAT TRANSFER