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Research Needs for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences - US Burning ...

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• develop and validate theoretical and numerical models of edge transport and turbulence<br />

in the st, including new codes with gyrofluid and gyrokinetic models. to help validate<br />

the models, develop and implement new diagnostic measurements to elucidate the edge<br />

electron and ion distribution functions, edge flows, and edge neutral density.<br />

Links to other thrusts: Theme 3, plasma-material interface (Thrusts 9-12)<br />

b. Develop and understand liquid metal plasma facing components.<br />

liquid metal plasma facing components (PFcs) may advance the st by: 1) significantly reducing<br />

anomalous electron transport, 2) allowing operation at high wall fusion power loading, 3) providing<br />

density control, 4) permitting density and pressure profile control at high beta (via the fueling<br />

profile), 5) providing edge and core stability enhancements, 6) controlling high-z impurities<br />

(if utilizing liquid lithium), and other issues common to conventional tokamaks. high recycling<br />

liquid metal PFcs such as gallium may be better suited than lithium to high-power density divertor<br />

designs. however, the technology requirements <strong>for</strong> liquid metal PFc development are largely<br />

independent of the choice of liquid metal. The near-term deployment of liquid lithium PFcs will<br />

in<strong>for</strong>m the development of high recycling liquid metal PFcs as well.<br />

actions:<br />

• implement and evaluate full liquid lithium wall in an st, with full core neutral beam<br />

fueling to assess if high ohmic energy confinement can be extended to core-fueled,<br />

auxillary-heated sts.<br />

• implement and investigate a full liquid lithium divertor in an st with full core fueling<br />

to assess whether a full lithium wall is required, or if partial walls or a divertor alone are<br />

sufficient.<br />

• diagnose edge plasma effects and plasma-material interactions with liquid lithium walls.<br />

Use this data to validate models <strong>for</strong> the plasma edge, and core-edge coupling, over a range<br />

of global recycling coefficients. Understand the effect of low recycling on the edge and<br />

core plasma sufficiently well to project the results to larger, hotter devices.<br />

• implement and evaluate a full flowing liquid metal wall and divertor in an st, with pulse<br />

length comparable to the flow time <strong>for</strong> liquid metal from inlet to outlet, over the liquid<br />

metal “<strong>for</strong>mer” or guide wall, jet path, etc. evaluate plasma magnetohydrodynamic<br />

(mhd) effects on liquid metal flows, stability, and influx to the core plasma, to determine<br />

whether liquid metal walls can be implemented, and whether liquid metals can control<br />

recycling, in a fusion nuclear device.<br />

Links to other thrusts: Theme 3, plasma-material interface — liquid metal test stand<br />

work, MHD simulations (Thrusts 10, 11)<br />

3. Utilize upgraded facilities to increase plasma temperature and magnetic field to understand St<br />

confinement and stability at fusion-relevant parameters.<br />

362

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