Rotating Member Liquid Liner Implosion for Fusion Plasma Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid liner implosion systems for forming a cavity in a liquid medium, such as those used in fusion reactors, face challenges in achieving efficient radial implosion and stabilization of the liquid liner, leading to suboptimal compression of magnetic fields and plasma.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a rotating member with fluid passages and an asymmetric shape, where the outer surface is determined by a specific pressure equation, and an implosion driver that uses piston assemblies or pressurized fluid to displace liquid medium through the passages, imploding the liner towards a central region, while a stator with cells reduces eddy formation and momentum exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cylindrical liquid liner is formed using conventional rotating systems, then the liner can be rotated to form a cavity, but the radial implosion efficiency and magnetic field compression are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spherical curvature to the liquid liner interface by rotating the liner about an axis, transforming the conventional cylindrical geometry into a spherical geometry. This curvature enables more efficient radial implosion and magnetic field compression compared to cylindrical configurations, directly addressing the productivity improvement while maintaining shape precision through controlled rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric shaping of the liquid liner by varying the rotation speed or injection parameters at different angular positions, creating a non-uniform density or velocity distribution within the liner. This asymmetry optimizes the implosion dynamics and magnetic field compression efficiency, resolving the contradiction between implosion efficiency and shape precision
2Productivity
If the liquid liner interface is flat, then the system structure is simple, but the magnetic field compression and plasma confinement are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent explicitly curves the liquid liner interface into a spherical shape by rotating the liner about an axis perpendicular to the injection direction. This spherical curvature concentrates the magnetic field lines and plasma toward the center during implosion, significantly enhancing magnetic field compression and plasma confinement compared to flat interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat interface to a three-dimensional curved spherical interface by introducing rotation about an axis. This dimensional change creates a focused convergence point at the sphere's center, optimizing magnetic field compression and plasma confinement through geometric focusing
3Productivity
If a symmetric rotating member is used, then the manufacturing is easier, but the implosion uniformity and plasma compression are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric rotation profiles or asymmetric injection timing to create controlled non-uniformities in the liquid liner formation. This asymmetry optimizes the implosion uniformity and plasma compression efficiency by compensating for instabilities that would otherwise arise from perfectly symmetric configurations, while the rotating member itself can remain symmetric for ease of manufacture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient formation and implosion of a liquid liner, enhancing the compression of plasma and magnetic fields, thereby improving the overall performance of the liquid liner implosion system.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid medium is provided in the vessel such that the liquid medium at least partially fills the fluid passages and forms a liquid liner with an inner interface of the liquid liner that curves with respect to the axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
an implosion driver that uses piston assemblies or pressurized fluid to displace liquid medium through the passages, imploding the liner towards a central region
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples of systems for forming cavity and a liquid liner are described. The system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel and rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotating member has an inner surface 5 curved with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer and plurality of fluid passages that each has an inboard opening at the inner surface and an outboard opening at the outer surface. The rotating member is filled with a liquid medium and a rotational driver rotates the rotating member such that when rotating the liquid medium at least partially fills the fluid passages forming liquid liner, defining the 10 cavity. The cavity formation system is used in a liquid liner implosion system with an implosion driver that causes the liquid liner to implode inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner system can be used in plasma compression systems.