Fluid dynamics plays a pivotal role in the generation of clean, renewable energy, from wind turbines to fusion machines. Our research focusses on understanding impulsive and unsteady effects of the fluid during the energy extraction cycle, in order to mitigate their adverse effects.
Fusion energy - the energy of the stars - is a clean, zero-emission, and inherently safe means of producing an almost limitless supply of energy, but making a practical fusion reactor for commercial power production is a great technical challenge. A promising but under-explored approach to fusion is Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF): A plasma of ionized hydrogen is created and then squeezed to the temperatures and pressures necessary for fusion to occur. By using the collapse of a liquid cavity to compress the plasma, the liquid wall can be continuously replenished after each compression, making for a very practical reactor. This project will explore the fluid dynamics of the liquid compression process being pursued by General Fusion's approach to a practical, commercial fusion reactor. As the liquid is injected into the reactor to compress the plasma, any mixing of the liquid wall with the plasma could prevent the fusion reaction. Of particular interest is the appearance of fluid instabilities, such as jets or droplets that could enter the plasma. Using laboratory experiments and mathematical models that derive from the equations of fluid dynamics, the motion of the liquid surface will be investigated and approaches to prevent jets from forming or growing will be explored. The flow of liquid in between the rotating and fixed parts of the reactor, as well as the pressure waves generated in the liquid during the cycle, will also be examined.
Students: Ivo Dawkins*; Rubert Martin*; John Kokkalis*
Funding: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) - Alliance Grant; General Fusion Inc.
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