An Innovative Approach to Prepare Liquid-Solid Dual-Phase Flowable Tritium Breeder with Low MHD Effect

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Tritium breeding is crucial for fusion reactors.
• Liquid breeder materials face challenges with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects in magnetic fields.
• Developing materials with reduced MHD effects is essential for efficient reactor operation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize a novel flowable tritium breeder composite.
• To investigate the effects of Li2TiO3 micro-powders on the properties of GaInSn alloy under magnetic fields.
• To evaluate the potential of the composite for reducing MHD effects in tritium breeding.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a liquid-solid dual-phase composite by mixing Li2TiO3 micro-powders and liquid GaInSn alloy.
• Analysis of Li2TiO3 micro-powders using X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
• Measurement of viscosity and electrical conductivity of the composite under varying magnetic field intensities.

Main Results:

• The Li2TiO3 micro-powders were confirmed to be pure.
• The composite exhibited lower viscosity and flow resistance compared to pure liquid GaInSn under strong magnetic fields.
• Addition of Li2TiO3 micro-powders significantly reduced the MHD effect and pressure drop.
• Electrical conductivity decreased with Li2TiO3 addition but stabilized over time.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-phase composite effectively mitigates MHD effects in tritium breeder materials.
• Li2TiO3 micro-powders enhance the performance of liquid breeders by reducing flow resistance.
• This study offers a promising fabrication strategy for advanced tritium breeder materials with low MHD impact.