Mitigation of hydrodynamic instabilities in magnetized target fusion reactors

聚变能——恒星的能量——是一种清洁、零排放、本质上安全的方式，可以产生几乎无限的能源供应，但为商业发电制造一个实用的聚变反应堆是一个巨大的技术挑战。磁化靶聚变（MTF）是一种很有前途但尚未得到充分探索的聚变方法：先产生电离氢等离子体，然后将其压缩到聚变发生所需的温度和压力。通过利用液体腔的坍塌来压缩等离子体，每次压缩后液体壁都可以不断地得到补充，这是一个非常实用的反应堆。这个项目将探索液体压缩过程的流体动力学，通用聚变公司正在追求一个实用的商业聚变反应堆。当液体被注入反应器以压缩等离子体时，任何液体壁与等离子体的混合都可能阻止聚变反应。特别令人感兴趣的是流体不稳定性的外观，例如可能进入等离子体的射流或液滴。利用实验室实验和从流体动力学方程导出的数学模型，将研究液体表面的运动，并探索防止射流形成或增长的方法。在反应器的旋转部分和固定部分之间的液体流动，以及在循环过程中液体中产生的压力波，也将被检查。

Fusion energy-the energy of the stars-is a clean, zero-emission, and inherently safe means of producing an almost limitless supply of energy, but making a practical fusion reactor for commercial power production is a great technical challenge. A promising but under-explored approach to fusion is Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF): A plasma of ionized hydrogen is created and then squeezed to the temperatures and pressures necessary for fusion to occur. By using the collapse of a liquid cavity to compress the plasma, the liquid wall can be continuously replenished after each compression, making for a very practical reactor. This project will explore the fluid dynamics of the liquid compression process being pursued by General Fusion's approach to a practical, commercial fusion reactor. As the liquid is injected into the reactor to compress the plasma, any mixing of the liquid wall with the plasma could prevent the fusion reaction. Of particular interest is the appearance of fluid instabilities, such as jets or droplets that could enter the plasma. Using laboratory experiments and mathematical models that derive from the equations of fluid dynamics, the motion of the liquid surface will be investigated and approaches to prevent jets from forming or growing will be explored. The flow of liquid in between the rotating and fixed parts of the reactor, as well as the pressure waves generated in the liquid during the cycle, will also be examined.