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In transition: Commercializing fusion power
Commercial fusion power is closer than ever. There are now around 30 U.S. fusion companies, several of which claim to be on track to connect to the grid as early as the 2030s.
Tokamak and laser inertial confinement approaches benefit from decades of research at facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and ITER, with alternative concepts including stellarator, magnetic mirror, and Z-pinch confinement also making notable progress as private and government funding for fusion increases.
R. C. Anderson, C. A. Erdman, A. B. Reynolds
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 88 | Number 4 | December 1984 | Pages 495-512
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE84-A18368
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Droplet size distributions from the bulk flashing of 50°C superheated water were measured experimentally. The distributions were lognormal, with a geometric mean droplet diameter Dg of 124 µm and a geometric standard deviation σg of 1.30. Measured droplet size distributions at 40 and 30°C superheat were also lognormal, but the values for Dg and σg were not sufficiently reproducible to compare to the 50°C superheat results. Flashing occurred from a 16.4-ml chamber through a 19-mm-diam opening. The door opening time was 1.6 ms. Measurements were made by collecting droplets containing blue dye on paper mounted on a rotating bicycle wheel. Spot sizes were correlated with droplet sizes using neutron activation analysis by adding samarium nitrate to the water and activating the samarium. Measurements of pressure, temperature, and expansion velocity during the flashing process were made and compared with calculated values with moderately good agreement. Exploratory calculations of maximum droplet diameters based on the critical Weber number (aerodynamic fragmentation) were made with results within a factor of 2 or 3 of the measured values.