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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.
Hiroki Shishido, Noritaka Yusa, Hidetoshi Hashizume, Yoshiki Ishii, Norikazu Ohtori
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 72 | Number 3 | October 2017 | Pages 382-388
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1330623
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The present study evaluates the thermal design of a blanket system using Flinabe in order to facilitate further discussions on its applicability as a self-cooled liquid blanket system. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the Prandtl number of mixtures in five compositions (LiF–NaF–BeF2 = 31–31–38, 36–27–37, 42–22–36, 49–16–35, and 67–0–33). Thermofluid analysis was carried out to estimate the temperature margin and pressure drop per unit length in a simple geometry model of the blanket system. The Prandtl number of Flinabe is above 100 at 400°C. The present study reveals that Flinabe remarkably relaxes the design conditions compared to Flibe as a coolant owing to its low melting point. In contrast, the pressure drop per unit length of Flinabe is higher than that of Flibe because the viscosity exponentially increases at low temperature. The temperature margin is quite dependent on the heat load on the first wall. If the pressure drop per unit length is around 1.0 MPa/m, the heat load value must be approximately below 0.7 MW/m2.