Study of the Pure Deuterium Fuel Burning Rate in Z-Pinch Devices with Magneto-Inertial Confinement
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The burning rate of pure deuterium (D-D) fuel in Z-pinch devices with magneto-inertial confinement was studied in this paper. The system of particle and energy balance equations for D-D fuel burning with a mixed D-T-3He fusion cycle (D-D, D-T, and D-3He reactions) was solved numerically, taking into account the densities of all reacted and produced ions (protons, deuterium, tritium, helium-3, and alpha-particles). The obtained results indicate that effective D-D fusion in Z-pinch devices can be successfully achieved under conditions of a hot, dense plasma with an initial temperature of 31 keV or higher. The initial ion density of deuterium and electron density were equal due to quasi-neutrality condition of the plasma, with both reaching 1024 m−3. Although the obtained results show that the burning rate of D-D fuel is approximately 2.3 times slower and its power density notably lower than that of D-T fuel, pure deuterium plasma can be considered as a promising alternative to well-studied deuterium–tritium plasma, with potential future applications in magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) facilities.
Source: Energies
DOI: 10.3390/en17215297
Authors: Olzhas Bayakhmetov, Assylkhan Azamatov
Institution: Institute of Nuclear Physics
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,955
OpenAlex ID: W4403768382