Studies Of Liquid Metal MHD Effects In Blankets Of Fusion Reactor

The studies on the FDS have been performed to seek for early application of fusion energy, which is the most potential and possesses intrinsic safety and a number of attractive advantages. The multi-functional blanket for waste transmutation and fuel production has been developed. Based on studies for feasibility and reliability of fusion-driven hybrid reactor, the conceptual design of DWTB is presented, especially the analysis activities of liquid metal MHD pressure drop in the FDS blanket that is included into thermal-hydraulic analysis. In addition, considering the essential characteristics of the fusion-fission hybrid reactor, the preliminary analysis and research of the MHD pressure drop of liquid metal that flow through the fuel packed pebble bed-based blanket are given.Two of liquid metal materials, i.e. Liquid metal Pb-17Li and Li, are seriously considered for their physical and chemical properties. Liquid metal Pb-17Li is one of the most attractive candidates for using as breeder, neutron multiplicator and coolant in dual-cooled waste transmutation blanket of FDS. Al2O3 coating is provided not only as insulation layer to decouple electrically the liquid metal flow from the load-carrying wall in the sake of the decisive reduction of pressure drop, but also as a barrier to reduce tritium permeation into structure materials. Preliminary analysis and calculation of liquid metal Pb-17Li MHD pressure drop in the blanket for the FDS have been presented to evaluate the significance of MHD effect to the thermal-hydraulic design of the blanket. Liquid metal MHD total pressure drop and magnetic pump power in the FDS blanket have been given for reference of the thermal-hydraulic design.The liquid metal Pb-17Li flow through a packed pebble bed-based blanket is considered to be one of the blanket candidates. The MHD pressure drop of liquid metal flow through the packed pebble bed has been calculated and analyzed under various conditions including (a) the size of the packed pebbles; (b) the ratio of occupied room by the packed pebbles to that of liquid metal; and (c) whether the pebbles surface is insulated or not. Furthermore, asymptotic techniques to analyze large Hartmann parameter flow and interaction parameter flow are employed and an analytical model has been developed for the calculations of MHD pressure drop of liquid metal flow in a packed pebble bed. The appropriate method for calculating the MHD effects on the pressure drop through the packed pebble bed-based blanket for the FDS has been presented.