Development of a novel fusion liquid divertor with very long lifetime using molten salt Flibe

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H01871
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 14020:Nuclear fusion-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ebara Shinji 東北大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (30325485)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 液体ダイバータ / 溶融塩 / 流れの可視化 / 乱流伝熱促進

Outline of Final Research Achievements

From a flow visualization experiment utilizing PIV, turbulence promotion effect due to pebbles installed on the channel bottom was clarified. It was found from heat transport experiment in which free surface of the flow was heated by Halogen heaters that fluid mixing was enhanced by the pebbles arranged on the channel bottom and surface temperature decreased compared to that without pebble case.
These results can enable us to hope slower flow velocity of Flibe and smaller amount of evaporation in the vacuum vessel in a fusion reactor, and to envisage that the feasibility of liquid divertor using Flibe is greatly improved.

Free Research Field

核融合炉工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

底面に大きな粗面を持つ自由表面流れについて、その乱流促進効果および自由表面における熱（スカラー量）輸送促進効果を実験的に明らかにした。自由表面における温度の計測については改良の余地があるものの、表面張力などの影響の強い自由表面流れの自由表面におけるこれらの効果を実験的に明らかにした意義は大きいと考える。また、この応用としてのFlibe液体ダイバータの開発についても、その実現可能性が高められ、今後の核融合炉開発への貢献が期待できる。