Helium accumulation effects using bench marked 0-D model

Helium ash'' accumulation is a key issue relative to our ability to achieve a steady-state ignited tokamak. 1-D transport simulations using the BALDUR code have been used to examine the correlation between the global helium particle confinement time and the edge exhaust (or recycling) efficiency. This provides a way to benchmark the widely used 0-D model. In this paper, burn conditions for an ITER-like plasma with various helium edge recycling coefficients are examined

Avalanche boron fusion by laser picosecond block ignition with magnetic trapping for clean and economic reactor

After the very long consideration of the ideal energy source by fusion of the protons of light hydrogen with the boron isotope 11 (boron fusion HB11) the very first two independent measurements of very high reaction gains by lasers basically opens a fundamental breakthrough. The non-thermal plasma block ignition with extremely high power laser pulses above petawatt of picosecond duration in combination with up to ten kilotesla magnetic fields for trapping has to be combined to use the measured high gains as proof of an avalanche reaction for an environmentally clean, low cost and lasting energy source as potential option against global warming. The unique HB11 avalanche reaction is are now based on elastic collisions of helium nuclei (alpha particles) limited only to a reactor for controlled fusion energy during a very short time within a very small volume.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, Submitted to Proceedings 2nd Symposium High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 14-18 MARCH 2016, Suzhou/Chin

CTR plasma engineering studies. Annual progress report, 1 November 1981-30 October 1982

During FY 82, much effort was devoted to work in support of alternate confinement concepts, especially those involving field reversal. This work includes: (1) development of particle and energy confinement scaling for the Reversed Field Pinch (RFP) and the Field Reversed Theta Pinch (FRTP), and (2) analysis of start-up (heating and plasma build) for the spheromak and Field Reversed Mirror (FRM). In addition, a block of projects were concerned with fusion product effects, including heating and ash build-up. These include, (1) a study of possible use of radial electric fields to control ash build-up in tokamaks, (2) effects of alpha-driven microinstabilities on heating in tokamaks, and (3) fusion product transport, including effects of large angle scattering on orbits, in EBT and FRM devices. In a related study, the possibility of hot-ion mode operation (assuming strong transfer of fusion product energy to ions, e.g. via microinstabilities) was done with emphasis on calculation of ion-electron equilibration rates

CTR plasma engineering studies. Annual progress report, 1 October 1979--30 September 1080

FY 1980 CTR Plasma Engineering Studies performed at the University of Illinois are reported. Current studies concentrated on four major areas including (i) field-reversed mirror (FRM) and related compact tori, (ii) dynamic behavior of the reversed-field pinch (RFP) including transport and stability and start-up, (iii) plasma buildup in small mirrors by including finite, ion orbit effects as well as the drift cyclotron loss-cone velocity-space diffusion, and (iv) high-energy fusion product transport in non-circular and high-..beta.. tokamaks, alpha ash buildup and possible control in tokamaks. Various computer packages have been produced for FRM, FROP, RFP, small compact tori and non-circular tokamaks. Basic models and the code packages developed and tested with available experiments are of vital information that can be used in conceptual reactor studies for the scaling and prediction of plasma behavior in near-term reactors

Negative ion beam requirements for compact tori

One potential application of negative ion beam sources involves injection into field-reversed fusion devices for both start-up and sustainment of plasma currents. High energies provide the prerequisite large orbit ions to drive these currents. A hybrid fluid-particle computational model is described that has been developed to study injection into a field-reversed mirror. Comparisons with the earlier experiments (2X-IIB) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are encouraging and support the concept of using high-energy injection in future devices

Experimental development of nuclear pumped laser candidate for inertial confinement fusion driver

A report is given on progress made during the second year of a three year contract studying the feasibility of nuclear pumping the atomic iodine laser. Experimental results are presented showing efficiencies of 25--38% at converting neutron-induced nuclear reaction energy in the excimer XeBr into UV photons which can be used to pump the laser. Parametric studies were done utilizing the {sup 10}B(n,{alpha}){sup 7}Li reaction, with three bromine donor chemicals, over a range of pressures and mix ratios, to optimize the fluorescence efficiency

Overview of nonelectrical applications of fusion

The potential for, and importance of, nonelectrical applications of fusion energy is discussed. Three possibilities are reviewed in some detail: fusion-fission hybrids for fissile fuel production; high-temperature electrolysis and thermochemical processes for hydrogen production; and high-temperature steam for coal gasification. The hybrid could be an early application of fusion if this route is identified as a desirable goal. Hydrogen production and coal gasification processes appear feasible and could be developed as a part of the conventional fusion blanket research and development. The question of economics, particularly in view of the high capital cost of fusion plants, remains an open issue requiring more study