RU77486U1 - Inertial Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor Chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

A dynamic method of protection and an inertial fusion reactor chamber.

The utility model relates to thermonuclear energy, and can be used to create a new type of safe nuclear power industry.

The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor containing reactor protection, a blanket, a driver and a target injector, the reactor protection being made in the form of a coolant layer with the possibility of injecting a target into it and initiating the target with radiation from the driver.

Description

Inertial thermonuclear fusion reactor chamber.

Technical field

The utility model relates to thermonuclear energy, and can be used to create a new type of safe nuclear power industry.

State of the art

Inertial-type experimental reactors are known (N. Basov, “The State, Prospects and Problems of L.T.S. in the Energy of the Future,” Nature, 1978, N6). In these reactors, thermonuclear fusion occurs in a small characteristic volume (100 μm), at a density of 10 ²⁵ reactant nuclei in 1 cm ³ . The reaction proceeds in a time of 10 ^-10 s. As a result, a microthermonuclear explosion occurs with an energy release of the order of 10 ⁸ J. The energy of a microthermonuclear explosion can be converted into electrical energy.

The HYLIFE-11 reactor design is also known, according to which the reactor chamber has a diameter of 8 meters and a height of 20 meters. To absorb the energy of the explosion, a liquid curtain of molten Li ₂ BeF ₄ salt is used, which surrounds the region where the targets are thrown. The liquid curtain also serves to wash away the remnants of targets and damp the pressure of explosions, the strength of which is equivalent to 20-200 kg of TNT. The flow rate of the liquid coolant is 50 m ³ / s. A liquid shutter is provided that opens in synchronization with the feed of the target with a frequency of about 5 Hz to transmit a beam of heavy ions. The accuracy of the feed target is a fraction of a millimeter. Also known is the design of a reactor for inertial thermonuclear fusion on heavy ions having a coaxial-cylindrical design. In order to ensure sufficiently rapid vapor condensation, the chamber region is divided into two parts: the first is relatively small, in which the microexplosion itself takes place (explosive section), and a volumetric tray in which the ionized vapor condenses on the sprayed coolant jets (1-Nuclear fusion with inertial retention .

Current status and prospects for energy. - edited by Sharkov B.Yu. Moscow. Fizmatlit. 2005. - P.264.).

Among the methods of protecting the first wall, two approaches are considered: coating the porous wall surface with a liquid coolant film and an inkjet liquid blanket, inside of which a dynamic cavity is created for organizing microexplosion. Known designs of reactors with a wetted first wall. This type of reactor uses the protection of the first wall with a liquid film of the coolant. A protective film is created on the porous surface of the first wall due to the pressure drop in the supply channels and the cavity of the reactor chamber. Neutron energy is released in a blanket with flowing coolant. Film protection was considered in the ITIS reactor designs of the State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation ITEP, HIBALL-II, LIBRA (1).

Film protection on a rigid porous wall is used in the PROMETHEUS-H project. The first wall is made of SiC, the liquid film is lead. The chamber cavity has a cylindrical geometry with hemispherical top and bottom. The blanket has a modular design cooled by helium (1).

In the HYLIFE-II project, dynamic inkjet structures are used as a blanket, forming a volume of liquid with an internal cavity. The walls of the liquid volume have a thickness sufficient to absorb neutrons. There are no microdrops in the cavity that impede the transport of the beam to the center of the cavity where the microexplosion of the target occurs. The problems are - the protection of a large number of nozzles and the dynamics of the formation of a cavity from many unsteady jets. The disadvantage of a reactor with a liquid blanket is a small temperature difference in the coolant and, accordingly, a large flow rate of the coolant in the reactor (1).

The HIBALL-II reactor chamber has a cylindrical geometry (see Fig. 4.3). The cylindrical part of the blanket is formed of separate tubes with a coolant. The tubes are made of porous material based on SiC. The heat carrier - the eutectic Li ₁₇ Pb _{83 is} squeezed out onto the surface of the chamber, where it forms a liquid film. Moistened

the surface of the pipes has a large area, which contributes to the condensation of the vapor of the film evaporated as a result of microexplosion. The coolant flowing along the walls is collected at the bottom of the cylindrical chamber, forming a liquid blanket. Significantly problematic is the design of the blank in the top cover of the cylindrical chamber. Here, the first wall is made of porous SiC material forming radial fords on the conical surface of the chamber lid. The supporting part of the blanket has a box-like design with a coolant duct (1).

The closest technical solution is the ITIS inertial fusion reactor containing blanket, which is a system of several vertical coaxial circular cylinders 6 m high. The radius of the inner cylinder (the chamber itself) is 3 m, the outer radius of the blanket is 3.5 m. The first wall is porous ceramic structure SiC, through which the coolant seeps, forming a liquid protective film of the chamber. The channels through which the coolant flows are made of vanadium alloy. The ITS reactor is a solid steel chamber surrounded by concrete radiation shielding and containing a thermonuclear microexplosion heat recovery system - a blanket on its inner surface. The walls of the reactor have the required number of holes for target injection, beam injection, gas pumping, and coolant inlet and outlet (Nuclear Fusion with inertial retention. The current state and prospects for energy - edited by Sharkov B.Yu. Moscow. Fizmatlit. 2005. -P.264.). The disadvantages of the known technical solutions are:

- The complexity and low-tech design;

- Low reliability and service life;

- The complexity of organizing the supply of coolant into the chamber;

- Complex operation;

- The energy intensity of the process;

- Impossibility of regulation over a wide range of protection parameters;

- The impact of microexplosion energy on the coolant supply system to the reactor chamber;

- Large mass and dimensions.

Utility Model Disclosure

The purpose of the utility model is to create a reliable reactor for inertial fusion. The technical solution allows to simplify the design and improve operational and energy characteristics of the reactor, and also makes it possible to achieve high adaptability. The technical solution also makes it possible to widely regulate the parameters of dynamic protection, as well as reliably protect the output devices - injectors, nozzles of targets and accelerators, etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The utility model is illustrated by drawings, where in Fig.1 shows a General view of the reactor, Fig.2-5 shows the dynamics of the reactor.

Description

The reactor chamber for carrying out inertial thermonuclear fusion contains the wall of the reactor 1 (Fig. 1), a blanket (heat recovery system for thermonuclear microexplosion) 2, driver 3, target accelerator (injector) 4 and target 5, pumps 6. Heat carrier 7 is supplied and removed to the chamber the reactor using pumps 6. The coolant 7 is, for example, a liquid metal eutectic Pb ₈₃ Li ₁₇ . The chamber can be connected to a vacuum pump (not shown in the figure). The driver can be made light or heavy, electronic or laser with a focusing system. The reactor chamber is connected to a heat exchanger (not shown in the figure) by pipelines 8.

Utility Model Embodiments

In accordance with the general scheme of inertial thermonuclear fusion, DT fuel is placed in the target 5 (Figure 1), using the injector 4, the target 5 is ejected into the reactor chamber. By pumps 6

liquid heat carrier 7 is supplied to the reactor chamber. The target 5 flies up to the surface of the coolant 7 (Figure 2) and enters into it (Figure 3). When the target 5 enters the coolant layer 7, a funnel is formed located in the bottom of the target 5. The funnel closes over time.

Target 5 can be given a hydrodynamic shape for the implementation of the necessary characteristics of the formation of a funnel. When the target 5 enters the coolant, the target substance is initiated using the driver 3, for example, heavy-ion radiation (Figure 4). Target 5 is compressed to colossal densities. At the time of the greatest compression, the necessary conditions are reached for the density and temperature of the substance, a nuclear fusion reaction begins to take place with the release of energy in the form of neutrons and α particles. At this moment, microexplosion occurs (Figure 5).

The liquid coolant absorbs heavy-duty energy fluxes of x-ray radiation and ions of the target material 5. The coolant 7 partially evaporates and heats up and enters the heat exchanger through pipelines 8 using pumps 6. The process is then repeated.

If necessary, by adjusting the flow mode, a layer of coolant 7 of the required thickness is organized. The target 5 at the time of microexplosion is surrounded by a layer of coolant 7, which allows to reduce shock loads on the walls of the chamber of the reactor 1 and significantly simplify the design of the reactor. One of the main problems in inertial fusion is the precise positioning of target 5 in the reactor chamber. To ensure accuracy, target 5 is fastened to a rod (not shown in the figure), which is injected into the reactor chamber, and then fixed in the desired position. The rod can be made with a cavity (not shown in the figure), through which the radiation from the driver hits the target 5. The rod can be made of the same material as the coolant, but in a solid state.

Laser, electronic and ion drivers are almost equally compatible with all types of blanket and methods of protecting the first wall.

The advantages of the proposed technical solution are to create optimal operating conditions that best suit the working conditions of the chambers of inertial fusion reactors.

Claims (5)

1. The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor containing the reactor shield, blanket, driver and target injector, the reactor chamber being connected to a heat exchanger, characterized in that the reactor shield is made in the form of a coolant layer with the possibility of injecting the target into it and initiating the target by radiation from the driver. 2. The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the drivers are located at an angle greater than 70 degrees with respect to the flight path of the target. 3. The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the target is bonded to the rod. 4. The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the target is fastened with a hollow rod with the possibility of sending an energy pulse from the driver to the target through the cavity. 5. The chamber of the inertial fusion reactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank is located behind the protective wall and is made in the form of tubes through which the coolant flows.