Conceptual design of a fusion engineering test facility based on mirror confinement (FEF)

Abstract

The results are presented from the feasibility study on a fusion engineering test facility based on mirror confinement (FEF) and are intended to clarify the critical issues both in the physics and engineering. The objectives of FEF are (i) to test many fusion engineering components associated with 14 MeV neutrons, such as material tests, tritium test, thermo-hydraulic test as well as the interactive and integrated tests, and (ii) to study the useful applications of fusion produced neutrons for other purposes, such as fission fuel production, radio isotope production and transmutation of nuclear waste. The design philosophy of the FEF is to build a compact and linear fusion plasma neutron source in an axisymmetric magnetic field configuration which could be built in near future. The characteristics of FEF are (i) usage of radio frequency power for heating and stabilization of the MHD mode of the plasma, (ii) usage of water for the shielding of the device, and (iii) usage of a direct energy conversion system for the end region of the mirror plasma. The basic specifications of FEF as the irradiation facility are: 14 MeV neutron wall leading of 1–2 MW/m 2 , and irradiation area of 1 m 2 . The major critical issues which are found through this work are: (i) the physics aspects, needs of the data bases for RF ponderomotive stabilization of the MHD mode and for pellet injection and (ii) the engineering issues, bombardment of high energy particles on the rf antenna and on the vacuum chamber and damage of the insulators.