Modular Aneutronic Fusion Engine
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FT/P3-20 Physics and Engineering Basis of Multi-Functional Compact Tokamak Reactor Concept R.M.O
FT/P3-20 Physics and Engineering Basis of Multi-functional Compact Tokamak Reactor Concept R.M.O. Galvão1, G.O. Ludwig2, E. Del Bosco2, M.C.R. Andrade2, Jiangang Li3, Yuanxi Wan3 Yican Wu3, B. McNamara4, P. Edmonds, M. Gryaznevich5, R. Khairutdinov6, V. Lukash6, A. Danilov7, A. Dnestrovskij7 1CBPF/IFUSP, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2Associated Plasma Laboratory, National Space Research Institute, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil, 3Institute of Plasma Physics, CAS, Hefei, 230031, P.R. China, 4Leabrook Computing, Bournemouth, UK, 5EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, UK, 6TRINITI, Troitsk, RF, 7RRC “Kurchatov Institute”, Moscow, RF [email protected] Abstract An important milestone on the Fast Track path to Fusion Power is to demonstrate reliable commercial application of Fusion as soon as possible. Many applications of fusion, other than electricity production, have already been studied in some depth for ITER class facilities. We show that these applications might be usefully realized on a small scale, in a Multi-Functional Compact Tokamak Reactor based on a Spherical Tokamak with similar size, but higher fields and currents than the present experiments NSTX and MAST, where performance has already exceeded expectations. The small power outputs, 20-40MW, permit existing materials and technologies to be used. The analysis of the performance of the compact reactor is based on the solution of the global power balance using empirical scaling laws considering requirements for the minimum necessary fusion power (which is determined by the optimized efficiency of the blanket design), positive power gain and constraints on the wall load. In addition, ASTRA and DINA simulations have been performed for the range of the design parameters. -
Nasa Tm X-1864 *
NASA TECHNICAL. • £HP2fKit NASA TM X-1864 * ... MEMORANDUM oo fe *' > ;ff f- •* '• . ;.*• f PROPULSION • FOR *MANN1D E30PLORATION-k '* *Of THE SOEAE " • » £ Moedkel • - " *' ' ' y Lem$ Research Center Cleveland, Qbt® NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SFACE ADMINISTRATION • WASHINGTON, D. €, * AUCUST 1969 NASA TM X-1864 PROPULSION SYSTEMS FOR MANNED EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM By W. E. Moeckel Lewis Research Center Cleveland, Ohio NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION For sale by the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and. Technical Information Springfield, Virginia 22151 - CFSTI price $3.00 ABSTRACT What propulsion systems are in sight for fast interplanetary travel? Only a few show promise of reducing trip times to values comparable to those of 16th century terrestrial expeditions. The first portion of this report relates planetary round-trip times to the performance parameters of two types of propulsion systems: type I is specific-impulse limited (with high thrust), and type n is specific-mass limited (with low thrust). The second part of the report discusses advanced propulsion concepts of both types and evaluates their limitations. The discussion includes nuclear-fission . rockets (solid, liquid, and gaseous core), nuclear-pulse propulsion, nuclear-electric rockets, and thermonuclear-fusion rockets. Particular attention is given to the last of these, because it is less familiar than the others. A general conclusion is that the more advanced systems, if they prove feasible, will reduce trip time to the near planets by factors of 3 to 5, and will make several outer planets accessible to manned exploration. PROPULSION SYSTEMS FOR MANNED EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM* byW. E. Moeckel Lewis Research Center SUMMARY What propulsion systems are in sight for fast interplanetary travel? Only a few show promise of reducing trip times to values comparable to those of 16th century terrestrial expeditions. -
Pulsed Fusion Space Propulsion: Computational Ideal Magneto-Hydro Dynamics of a Magnetic Flux Compression Reaction Chamber
Pulsed Fusion Space Propulsion: Computational Ideal Magneto-Hydro Dynamics of a Magnetic Flux Compression Reaction Chamber G. Romanelli Master of Science Thesis Space Systems Engineering PULSED FUSION SPACE PROPULSION: COMPUTATIONAL IDEAL MAGNETO-HYDRO DYNAMICS OFA MAGNETIC FLUX COMPRESSION REACTION CHAMBER by Gherardo ROMANELLI to obtain the degree of Master of Science at the Delft University of Technology, to be defended publicly on Friday February 26, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Student number: 4299876 Thesis committee: Dr. A. Cervone, TU Delft, supervisor Prof. Dr. E. K. A. Gill, TU Delft Dr. Ir. E. Mooij, TU Delft Prof. A. Mignone, Politecnico di Torino An electronic version of this thesis is available at http://repository.tudelft.nl/. To boldly go where no one has gone before. James T. Kirk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. A. Cervone who has always sup- ported me despite my “quite exotic” interests. He left me completely autonomous in shaping my thesis project, and still, was always there every time I needed help. Then, I would of course like to thank Prof. A. Mignone who decided to give his contribute to this seemingly crazy project of mine. His advice arrived just in time to give an happy ending to this story. Il ringraziamento più grande, però, va di certo alla mia famiglia. Alla mia mamma e a mio babbo, perché hanno sempre avuto fiducia in me e non hanno mai chiesto ragioni o spiegazioni alle mie scelte. Ai miei nonni, perché se di punto in bianco, un giorno di novembre ho deciso di intraprendere questa lunga strada verso l’Olanda, l’ho potuto fare anche per merito loro. -
Nuclear Fusion
Copyright © 2016 by Gerald Black. Published by The Mars Society with permission NUCLEAR FUSION: THE SOLUTION TO THE ENERGY PROBLEM AND TO ADVANCED SPACE PROPULSION Gerald Black Aerospace Engineer (retired, 40+ year career); email: [email protected] Currently Chair of the Ohio Chapter of the Mars Society Presented at Mars Society Annual Convention, Washington DC, September 22, 2016 ABSTRACT Nuclear fusion has long been viewed as a potential solution to the world’s energy needs. However, the government sponsored megaprojects have been floundering. The two multi-billion- dollar flagship programs, the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the National Ignition Facility (NIF), have both experienced years of delays and a several-fold increase in costs. The ITER tokamak design is so large and complex that, even if this approach succeeds, there is doubt that it would be economical. After years of testing at full power, the NIF facility is still far short of achieving its goal of fusion ignition. But hope is not lost. Several private companies have come up with smaller and simpler approaches that show promise. This talk highlights the progress made by one such private company, namely LPPFusion (formerly called Lawrenceville Plasma Physics). LPPFusion is developing focus fusion technology based on the dense plasma focus device and hydrogen-boron 11 fuel. This approach, if it works, would produce a fusion power generator small enough to fit in a truck. This device would produce no radioactivity, there would be no possibility of a meltdown or other safety issues, and it would be more economical than any other source of electricity. -
Digital Physics: Science, Technology and Applications
Prof. Kim Molvig April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) DDD-T--TT FusionFusion D +T → α + n +17.6 MeV 3.5MeV 14.1MeV • What is GOOD about this reaction? – Highest specific energy of ALL nuclear reactions – Lowest temperature for sizeable reaction rate • What is BAD about this reaction? – NEUTRONS => activation of confining vessel and resultant radioactivity – Neutron energy must be thermally converted (inefficiently) to electricity – Deuterium must be separated from seawater – Tritium must be bred April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) ConsiderConsider AnotherAnother NuclearNuclear ReactionReaction p+11B → 3α + 8.7 MeV • What is GOOD about this reaction? – Aneutronic (No neutrons => no radioactivity!) – Direct electrical conversion of output energy (reactants all charged particles) – Fuels ubiquitous in nature • What is BAD about this reaction? – High Temperatures required (why?) – Difficulty of confinement (technology immature relative to Tokamaks) April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) DTDT FusionFusion –– VisualVisualVisual PicturePicture Figure by MIT OCW. April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) EnergeticsEnergetics ofofof FusionFusion e2 V ≅ ≅ 400 KeV Coul R + R V D T QM “tunneling” required . Ekin r Empirical fit to data 2 −VNuc ≅ −50 MeV −2 A1 = 45.95, A2 = 50200, A3 =1.368×10 , A4 =1.076, A5 = 409 Coefficients for DT (E in KeV, σ in barns) April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) TunnelingTunneling FusionFusion CrossCross SectionSection andand ReactivityReactivity Gamow factor . Compare to DT . April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) ReactivityReactivity forfor DTDT FuelFuel 8 ] 6 c e s / 3 m c 6 1 - 0 4 1 x [ ) ν σ ( 2 0 0 50 100 150 200 T1 (KeV) April 20, 2006: 22.012 Fusion Seminar (MIT) Figure by MIT OCW. -
9.0 BACKGROUND “What Do I Do First?” You Need to Research a Card (Thruster Or 9.1 DESIGNER’S NOTES Robonaut) with a Low Fuel Consumption
9.2 TIPS FOR INEXPERIENCED ROCKET CADETS 9.0 BACKGROUND “What do I do first?” You need to research a card (thruster or 9.1 DESIGNER’S NOTES robonaut) with a low fuel consumption. A “1” is great, a “4” The original concept for this game was a “Lords of the Sierra Madre” in is marginal. The PRC player*** can consider an dash to space. With mines, ranches, smelters, and rail lines all purchased and claim Hellas Basin on Mars, using just his crew card. He controlled by different players, who have to negotiate between them- needs 19 fuel steps (6 WT) along the red route to do this. selves to expand. But space does not work this way. “What does my rocket need?” Your rocket needs 4 things: Suppose you have a smelter on one main-belt asteroid, powered by a • A card with a thruster triangle (2.4D) to act as a thruster. • A card with an ISRU rating, if its mission is to prospect. beam-station on another asteroid, and you discover platinum on a third • A refinery, if its mission is to build a factory. nearby asteroid. Unfortunately for long-term operations, next year these • Enough fuel to get to the destination. asteroids will be separated by 2 to 6 AUs.* Furthermore, main belt Decide between a small rocket able to make multiple claims, Hohmann transfers are about 2 years long, with optimal transfer opportu- or a big rocket including a refinery and robonaut able to nities about 7 years apart. Jerry Pournelle in his book “A Step Farther industrialize the first successful claim. -
Tokamak Foundation in USSR/Russia 1950--1990
IOP PUBLISHING and INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY NUCLEAR FUSION Nucl. Fusion 50 (2010) 014003 (8pp) doi:10.1088/0029-5515/50/1/014003 Tokamak foundation in USSR/Russia 1950–1990 V.P. Smirnov Nuclear Fusion Institute, RRC ’Kurchatov Institute’, Moscow, Russia Received 8 June 2009, accepted for publication 26 November 2009 Published 30 December 2009 Online at stacks.iop.org/NF/50/014003 In the USSR, nuclear fusion research began in 1950 with the work of I.E. Tamm, A.D. Sakharov and colleagues. They formulated the principles of magnetic confinement of high temperature plasmas, that would allow the development of a thermonuclear reactor. Following this, experimental research on plasma initiation and heating in toroidal systems began in 1951 at the Kurchatov Institute. From the very first devices with vessels made of glass, porcelain or metal with insulating inserts, work progressed to the operation of the first tokamak, T-1, in 1958. More machines followed and the first international collaboration in nuclear fusion, on the T-3 tokamak, established the tokamak as a promising option for magnetic confinement. Experiments continued and specialized machines were developed to test separately improvements to the tokamak concept needed for the production of energy. At the same time, research into plasma physics and tokamak theory was being undertaken which provides the basis for modern theoretical work. Since then, the tokamak concept has been refined by a world-wide effort and today we look forward to the successful operation of ITER. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) At the opening ceremony of the United Nations First In the USSR, NF research began in 1950. -
Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA) for Use on EAST
Magnetic Confinement Fusion C. Xiao and STOR-M team Plasma Physics Laboratory University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Canada \ Outline Magnetic Confinement scheme Progress in the world Tokamak Research at the University of Saskatchewan 2 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Magnetic Confinement Scheme 3 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Charged particle motion in straight magnetic field A charged particle circulates around the magnetic field lines (e.g., produced in a solenoid) Cross-field motion is restricted within Larmor radius 푚푣 푟 = 퐿 푞퐵 Motion along the field lines is still free End loss to the chamber wall Chamber Wall 4 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Toriodal geometry is the solution However, plasma in simple toroidal field drifts to outboard on the wall 5 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Tokamak Bend solenoid to form closed magnetic field lines circular field line without ends no end-loss. Transformer action produces a huge current in the chamber Generate poloidal field Heats the plasma Tokamak: abbreviation of Russian words for toroidal magnetic chamber 6 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Stellarator • The magnetic field are generated by complicated external coils • No plasma current, no disruptions • Engineering is challenge 7 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Wendelstein 7-X, Greifswald, Germany • Completed in October 2015 • Superconducting coils • High density and high temperature have been achieved 8 CNS-2019 Fusion Session, June 24, 2019 Reversed Field Pinch • Toroidal field reverses direction at the edge • The magnetic field are generated by current in plasma • Toroidal filed and poloidal field are of similar strength. -
Fusion & High Energy Density Plasma Science
Fusion & High Energy Density Plasma Science Opportunities using Pulsed Power Daniel Sinars, Sandia National Laboratories Fusion Power Associates Dec. 4-5, 2018 Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525. Sandia is the home of Z, the world’s largest pulsed power facility, and its adjacent multi-kJ Z-Beamlet and Z-PW lasers Pulsed power development area Z Periscope ZBL/ZPW Chama ZPW ZBL Chamber Jemez Chamber Chaco Pecos Target Chamber Chaco Chaco Probe Chambers Laser Beam Using two HED facilities, we have demonstrated the scaling of magneto-inertial fusion over factors of 1000x in energy 3 Our fusion yields have been increasing as expected with increased fuel preheating and magnetization Progress since 1st MagLIF in 2014 Demonstrated platform on Omega • Improved laser energy coupling • Improved magnetic field from ~0.3 kJ to 1.4 kJ strength from 9 T to 27 T • Demonstrated 6x improvement • Achieved record MIF yields on in fusion performance, reaching Omega of 5x109 DD in 2018 2.5 kJ DT-equivalent in 2018 4 We believe that Z is capable of producing a fusion yield of ~100 kJ DT-equivalent with MagLIF, though doing it with DT would exceed our safety thresholds for both T inventory & yield Preheat Energy = 6 kJ into 1.87 mg/cc DT § 2D simulations indicate a 22+ MA and 25+ T with 22.6 MA 6 kJ of preheat could produce ~100 kJ 21.1 MA § Presently, we cannot produce these inputs 17.4 MA S. -
NIAC 2011 Phase I Tarditti Aneutronic Fusion Spacecraft Architecture Final Report
NASA-NIAC 2001 PHASE I RESEARCH GRANT on “Aneutronic Fusion Spacecraft Architecture” Final Research Activity Report (SEPTEMBER 2012) P.I.: Alfonso G. Tarditi1 Collaborators: John H. Scott2, George H. Miley3 1Dept. of Physics, University of Houston – Clear Lake, Houston, TX 2NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 3University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL Executive Summary - Motivation This study was developed because the recognized need of defining of a new spacecraft architecture suitable for aneutronic fusion and featuring game-changing space travel capabilities. The core of this architecture is the definition of a new kind of fusion-based space propulsion system. This research is not about exploring a new fusion energy concept, it actually assumes the availability of an aneutronic fusion energy reactor. The focus is on providing the best (most efficient) utilization of fusion energy for propulsion purposes. The rationale is that without a proper architecture design even the utilization of a fusion reactor as a prime energy source for spacecraft propulsion is not going to provide the required performances for achieving a substantial change of current space travel capabilities. - Highlights of Research Results This NIAC Phase I study provided led to several findings that provide the foundation for further research leading to a higher TRL: first a quantitative analysis of the intrinsic limitations of a propulsion system that utilizes aneutronic fusion products directly as the exhaust jet for achieving propulsion was carried on. Then, as a natural continuation, a new beam conditioning process for the fusion products was devised to produce an exhaust jet with the required characteristics (both thrust and specific impulse) for the optimal propulsion performances (in essence, an energy-to-thrust direct conversion). -
Fission and Fusion Can Yield Energy
Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy can also be separated into 2 separate forms: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is the splitting of large atomic nuclei into smaller elements releasing energy, and nuclear fusion is the joining of two small atomic nuclei into a larger element and in the process releasing energy. The mass of a nucleus is always less than the sum of the individual masses of the protons and neutrons which constitute it. The difference is a measure of the nuclear binding energy which holds the nucleus together (Figure 1). As figures 1 and 2 below show, the energy yield from nuclear fusion is much greater than nuclear fission. Figure 1 2 Nuclear binding energy = ∆mc For the alpha particle ∆m= 0.0304 u which gives a binding energy of 28.3 MeV. (Figure from: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html ) Fission and fusion can yield energy Figure 2 (Figure from: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/nucbin.html) Nuclear fission When a neutron is fired at a uranium-235 nucleus, the nucleus captures the neutron. It then splits into two lighter elements and throws off two or three new neutrons (the number of ejected neutrons depends on how the U-235 atom happens to split). The two new atoms then emit gamma radiation as they settle into their new states. (John R. Huizenga, "Nuclear fission", in AccessScience@McGraw-Hill, http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:3725) There are three things about this induced fission process that make it especially interesting: 1) The probability of a U-235 atom capturing a neutron as it passes by is fairly high. -
RTM Perspectives June 27, 2016
Fusion Finally Coming of Age? Manny Frishberg, Contributing Editor RTM Perspectives June 27, 2016 Harnessing nuclear fusion, the force that powers the sun, has been a pipe dream since the first hydrogen bombs were exploded. Fusion promises unlimited clean energy, but the reality has hovered just out of reach, 20 years away, scientists have said for more than six decades—until now. Researchers at Lawrence Livermore Labs, the University of Washington, and private companies like Lockheed Martin and Canada’s General Fusion now foresee the advent of viable, economical fusion energy in as little as 10 years. Powered by new developments in materials, control systems, and other technologies, new reactor designs are testing old theories and finding new ways to create stable, sustainable reactions. Nuclear power plants create energy by breaking apart uranium and plutonium atoms; by contrast, fusion plants squeeze together atoms (typically hydrogen) at temperatures of 1 to 2 million degrees C to form new, heavier elements, essentially creating a miniature star in a bottle. Achieving fusion requires confining plasma to create astronomical levels of pressure and heat. Two approaches to confining the plasma have dominated: magnetic and inertial confinement. Magnetic confinement uses the electrical conductivity of the plasma to contain it with magnetic fields. Inertial confinement fires an array of powerful lasers or particle beams at the hydrogen atoms to pressurize and superheat them. Both approaches require huge amounts of energy, and they struggle to get more energy back out of the system. Most efforts to date have relied on some form of magnetic confinement. For instance, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, being built in southern France by a coalition that includes the European Union, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States, is a tokamak reactor.