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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Keiji Miyazaki, Kensuke Konishi, Yoshihisa Gonno, Shoji Inoue, Masaki Saito
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 969-975
Blanket Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29468
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
For reducing the liquid metal MHD pressure drop of the first wall cooling, a NaK experimental study was made on the effects of the electrical insulation of a rectangular duct. Three inner surfaces of a 2.1 mm thick 304-SS rectangular duct of 20.5 mm × 45.5 mm inner cross-section was coated by 1.3 mm thick FRP plates, remaining one of the 45.5 mm wide faces uninsulated to simulate the plasma facing first wall. The magnetic field was mainly applied in parallel to the uninsulated face. The results are summarized as follows. (1) The MHD pressure drop gradient is proportional to the mean flow velocity U and also to the magnetic flux density B. (2) It is about 2.3 times higher than the value predicted by Shercliff's theory for a completely insulated rectangular duct. (3) It is largely reduced, for the same velocity, down to 7.7% at B= 1.0 T and 5.1% at B= 1.5 T in comparison with the uninsulated duct. These results are encouraging for applying to fusion power reactors.