Auto-magnetizing (AutoMag) liners for MagLIF: Helically-wound composite liners.

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1562628· OSTI ID:1562628

Awe, Thomas James ^[1]; Shipley, Gabriel A. ^[1]; Hutchinson, Trevor M. ^[2]; Hutsel, Brian Thomas ^[1]; Jaramillo, Deanna M. ^[1]; Jennings, Christopher Ashley ^[1]; Lamppa, Derek C. ^[1]; Lucero, Diego Jose ^[1]; Lucero, Larry Martin ^[1]; McBride, Ryan D. ^[3]; Slutz, Stephen A. ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
3. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) is an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) concept that includes a strong magnetic field embedded in the fuel to mitigate thermal conduction loss during the implosion. MagLIF experiments on Sandia's 20 MA Z Machine uses an external Helmholtz-like coil pair for fuel premagnetization. By contrast, the novel AutoMag concept employs a composite liner (cylindrical tube) with helically oriented conduction paths separated by insulating material to provide axial premagnetization of the fuel. Initially, during a current prepulse that slowly rises to %7E1 MA, current flows helically through the AutoMag liner, and sources the fuel with an axial field. Next, a rapidly rising main current pulse breaks down the insulation and current in the liner becomes purely axial. The liner and premagnetized fuel are then compressed by the rapidly growing azimuthal field external to the liner. This integrated axial-field-production mechanism offers a few potential advantages when compared to the external premagnetization coils. AutoMag can increase drive current to MagLIF experiments by enabling a lower inductance transmission line, provide higher premagnetization field (>30 T), and greatly increase radial x-ray diagnostic access. 3D electromagnetic simulations using ANSYS Maxwell have been completed in order to explore the current distributions within the helical conduction paths, the inter - wire dielectric strength properties, and the thermal properties of the helical conduction paths during premagnetization (%7E1 MA in 100ns). Three liner designs, of varying peak field strength, and associated varying risk of dielectric breakdown, will soon be tested in experiments on the %7E 1 MA, 100ns Mykonos facility. Experiments will measure B_z(t) inside of the line r and assess failure mechanisms.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1562628
• Report Number(s): SAND-2016-9596; LDRD-195306; 647751
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English