Performance of the lithium metal infused trenches in the magnum PSI linear plasma simulator

The application of liquid metal, especially liquid lithium, as a plasma facing component (PFC) has the capacity to offer a strong alternative to solid PFCs by reducing damage concerns and enhancing plasma performance. The liquid-metal infused trenches (LiMIT) concept is a liquid metal divertor alter...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear fusion 2015-09, Vol.55 (11), p.113004-8
Main Authors: Fiflis, P., Morgan, T.W., Brons, S., Van Eden, G.G., Van Den Berg, M.A., Xu, W., Curreli, D., Ruzic, D.N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
divertor
Droplets
Fluxes
Liquid lithium
liquid metal
Liquid metals
lithium
Mathematical models
Simulation
Thermoelectricity
Trenches
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The application of liquid metal, especially liquid lithium, as a plasma facing component (PFC) has the capacity to offer a strong alternative to solid PFCs by reducing damage concerns and enhancing plasma performance. The liquid-metal infused trenches (LiMIT) concept is a liquid metal divertor alternative which employs thermoelectric current from either plasma or external heating in tandem with the toroidal field to self-propel liquid lithium through a series of trenches. LiMIT was tested in the linear plasma simulator, Magnum PSI, at heat fluxes of up to 3 MW m−2. Results of these experiments, including velocity and temperature measurements, as well as power handling considerations are discussed, focusing on the 80 shots performed at Magnum scanning magnetic fields and heat fluxes up to ~0.3 T and 3 MW m−2. Comparisons to predictions, both analytical and modelled, are made and show good agreement. Concerns over MHD droplet ejection are additionally addressed.
ISSN:0029-5515
1741-4326
DOI:10.1088/0029-5515/55/11/113004