Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Co-Chair: Minami Yoda, Co-Advisor; Committee Co-Chair: Said I. Abdel-Khalik; Committee Member: Donald R. Webster; Committee Member: Narayanan M. Komerath; Committee Member: S. Mostafa Ghiaasiaan; Committee Member: Yogendra Joshi

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005. / Said I. Abdel-Khalik, Committee Chair ; Sheldon M. Jeter, Committee Member ; Minami Yoda, Committee Member. Includes bibliographical references.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第24718号 / エネ博第461号 / 新制||エネ||86(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー応用科学専攻 / (主査)教授 宮内 雄平, 教授 大垣 英明, 准教授 中嶋 隆, 特定教授 檜木 達也 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

The thesis describes effect of long-time ageing on the microstructure and properties of the Eurofer´97 steel. The ferritic-martensitic reduced activation steel Eurofer´97 is candidate structural material for in-core components of proposed fusion reactors. Thesis is focused on examination and description of brittle-fracture behaviour of the steel. Properties of the steel were investigated in as-received state and state after long-time ageing. Detailed microstructure studies were carried out by means of optical and electron microscopy and also by means of quantitative electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were evaluated also in both states by means of hardness tetsing, tensile testing and Charpy impact testing. Fractography analysis of fracture surfaces was carried out on samples after Charpy impact testing.

No description available.

Neste trabalho apresentamos o estudo da possivilidade de melhores regimes para o uso dos experimentos de aquecimento e geracao de corrente e fluxo de plasma no tokamak TCABR. Apresentamos um estudo dos efeitos de rotacao de plasma em baixa frequencia (low-frequency (LF)), penetração de campo eletromagnético, absorção e forças ponderomotoras no “Tokamak Chauffage Alfvén Brésilien" (TCABR) com ênfase na faixa de frequências de 0, 5–10, 0kHz. Os campos de LF são dirigidos pelo limitador magnético ergódico (ergodic magnetic limiter (EML)) no TCABR. Foi feito um estudo analítico das ondas de Alfvén e ressonância usando modelos simples. Um estudo num´erico tembém foi realizado utilizando três códigos, quais sejam, o código cinético toroidal, o código cilíndrico e o código ALTOK. / In this work we present the study of the determination the best regimes and parameters¶for the heating experiments and current generation and plasma flow in the tokamak TCABR. Study of effects of plasma rotation in low frequency (LF), field penetration, absorption and ponderomotive forces in “Tokamak Chauffage Alfvén Brésilien" (TCABR)is investigated with emphasis in the frequency range of 0, 5–10, 0kHz. The fields of LF are driven by the ergodic magnetic limiter (EML) in TCABR. A qualitative analytical study of the Alfvén waves and their resonances is performed using simple models. A numeric study was carried out using through three codes, called the kinetic totoidal code, the cylindrical code and the ALTOK code.

One of the most demanding engineering issues in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) reactors is the design of a reaction chamber that can withstand the intense photons, neutrons and charged particles due to the fusion event. Rapid pulsed deposition of energy within thin surface layers of the fusion reactor components such as the first wall may cause severe surface erosion due to ablation. One particularly innovative concept for the protection of IFE reactor cavity first walls from the direct energy deposition associated with soft X-rays and target debris is the thin liquid film protection scheme. In this concept, a thin film of molten liquid lead is fed through a silicon carbide first wall to protect it from the incident irradiations. Numerous studies have been reported in the literature on the thermal response of the liquid film to the intermittent photon and ion irradiations, as well as on the fluid dynamics and stability of liquid films on vertical and upward-facing inclined surfaces. However, no investigation has heretofore been reported on the stability of thin liquid films on downward-facing solid surfaces with liquid injection through (i.e. normal to the surface of) the bounding wall. This flow models the injection of molten liquid lead over the upper end cap of the reactor chamber. The hydrodynamics of this flow can be interpreted as a variation of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability due to the effect of the bounding wall which is continuously fed with the heavier fluid. In order to gain additional insight into the thin liquid film protection scheme, experiments have been conducted to investigate the critical issues associated with this concept. To this end, an experimental test facility has been designed and constructed to simulate the hydrodynamics of thin liquid films injected normal to the surface of and through downward-facing flat walls. In this doctoral thesis, the effect of different design parameters (film thickness, liquid injection velocity, liquid properties and inclination angle) on liquid film stability has been examined. The results address the morphology of the film free surface, the frequency of droplet formation and detachment, the size and penetration depth of the detached droplets, and the interface wave number. These experimental data have been used to validate a novel mechanistic numerical code based on a level contour reconstruction front tracking method over a wide range of parameters. The results of this investigation will allow designers of IFE power plants to identify appropriate windows for successful operation of the thin liquid film protection concept for different coolants.

The chamber walls in inertial fusion reactors must be protected from the photons and ions resulting from the target explosions. One way this can be accomplished is through a sacrificial liquid wall composed of either liquid jets or thin liquid films. The x-rays produced by the exploding targets deposit their energy in a thin liquid layer on the wall surface or in the surface of liquid jets arrayed to protect the wall. The partially vaporized liquid film/jet forms a protective cloud that expands toward the incoming ionic debris which arrives shortly (a few s) thereafter. The charged particles deposit their energy in the vapor shield and the unvaporized liquid, thereby leading to further evaporation. Re-condensation of the vapor cloud and radiative cooling of the expanding plasma allow the energy deposited in the liquid to be recovered prior to the next target explosion (100ms). Chamber clearing prior to the next explosion represents a major challenge for all liquid protection systems, inasmuch as any remaining liquid droplets may interfere with beam propagation and/or target injection. Therefore, the primary objective of this research is to experimentally examine the interaction between liquid droplets and low- temperature, low-pressure plasmas under conditions similar to those expected following inertial fusion target explosions and the subsequent expansion. The data obtained in this research will be useful in validating mechanistic chamber-clearing models to assure successful beam propagation and target injection for the subsequent explosion.

The A15-based Nb3Sn and V3Ga superconducting compounds are an integral part of synchrotrons and magnetic fusion reactor technology, especially where a magnetic field higher than 10 T is required, which lies beyond the limit of conventional Nb-Ti superconductors (~8 T). These brittle intermetallic compounds are difficult to manufacture in the form of wires, required for the application purpose, using the traditional wire-drawing process. Hence, bronze technique is adopted to fabricate such filamentary wires. This is based on the solid-state diffusion where A3B compound (A=Nb or V, B=Sn or Ga) forms during the interaction of Cu(B) and A. The operation of pure superconducting wires gets restricted to the field of 12 T, however, the ever-increasing demands for an improved efficiency have promoted the development of these A15 wires with the addition of alloying elements such as Ti and Zr. Many important physical and mechanical properties of such wires depend on the growth behaviour of these compounds. Therefore, understanding the growth of such compounds necessitates an in-depth analysis on diffusion behaviour of various elements in both bronze-based solid solutions as well as A15-intermetallics. Estimation of diffusion parameters makes use of the most commonly used diffusion couple technique. There are mainly three methods available for the estimation of the interdiffusion coefficients, proposed by Matano-Boltzmann (MB), Den Broeder (dB), same as Sauer-Freise (SF) and Wagner. Among these three, MB treatment is known to be the least accurate method, especially when there is a deviation of molar volume in a system from the ideality. At the same time molar volume might affect the estimation process differently for dB and Wagner’s approach. MB method is still being used neglecting the actual molar volume variation. On the other hand, the implementation of dB or Wagner’s approach for the estimation remains to be random. For the first time, we have critically examined the role of molar volume on estimated diffusion parameters and indicated the more accurate approach. Similar analysis for the estimation of the intrinsic diffusion coefficient is conducted considering Heumann and van Loo’s methods. Furthermore, the discussion is extended to the estimations of various diffusion parameters considering the measured composition profile in the V-Ga system. A detailed diffusion study has been conducted on Cu(Ga) and Cu(Sn) solid solutions to examine the role of the vacancy wind effect on interdiffusion. The interdiffusion, intrinsic and impurity diffusion coefficients are determined to facilitate the discussion. It is found that Ga and Sn are the faster diffusing species in the respective systems. The trend of the interdiffusion coefficients is explained with the help of the driving force. Following that, the tracer diffusion coefficients of the species are calculated with and without consideration of the vacancy wind effect. We found that the role of the vacancy wind is negligible on the minor element in a dilute solid solution, which is the faster diffusing species in this system and controls the interdiffusion process. However, consideration of this effect is important to understand the diffusion rate of the major element, which is the slower diffusing species in this system. Major drawback of studying diffusion in multi-component systems is the lack of suitable techniques to estimate the diffusion parameters. In this study, a generalized treatment to determine the intrinsic diffusion coefficients in multi-component systems is developed utilizing the concept of pseudo-binary approach. This is explained with the help of experimentally developed diffusion profile in the Cu(Sn, Ga) solid solution. Based on an interdiffusion study using an incremental diffusion couple in the V-Ga binary system, we have shown that V diffuses via lattice, whereas Ga does so via grain boundaries for the growth of the V3Ga phase. We could estimate the contributions from two different mechanisms, which are, usually, difficult to delineate in an interdiffusion study. Available tracer diffusion studies and the atomic arrangement in the crystal structure have been considered for a discussion on the diffusion mechanisms. Diffusion–controlled growth rate of V3Ga at the Cu(Ga)/V changes dramatically because of a small change in Ga content in Cu(Ga). One atomic percent increase in Ga leads to more than double the product phase layer thickness and a significant decrease in activation energy. Kirkendall marker experiment indicates that V3Ga grows because of diffusion of Ga. Role of different factors influencing the diffusion rate of Ga and high growth rate of V3Ga are discussed. The growth of Nb3Sn by bronze technique on two different single crystals and deformed Nb is studied. The grain boundary diffusion-controlled growth rate is found to be different for each of these three specimens. The difference is explained on the basis of the grain size of Nb3Sn. Elemental additions such as Ti and Zr to either bronze or metal are found to improve the superconducting properties. We have examined their effects on the growth rates of A15-phase formed in Cu(B,x)/A and Cu(B)/(A,x), where x is Ti or Zr. In either cases Ti and Zr-additions result in an improved growth rate of the product phase and reduces activation energy with increase in alloying addition; however few precipitates are formed in the interdiffusion zone for Cu(B,x)/A. Wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS)-mapping reveals these to be x-rich. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)-analysis suggests having composition gradient inside a single precipitate. TEM-diffraction demonstrates these to be Ti(A) solid solution crystallizing as BCC-structure for Cu(B,Ti)/A. These are located on grain boundaries of A15-phase. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD)-analysis demonstrates grain morphology of product phase and found the average grain size to exhibit a decreasing trend with increasing x content. Columnar grains, on Ti and Zr addition tend to form as equiaxed ones. Based on the morphology and grain size pattern, the role of grain boundary diffusion is speculated to have a dominant effect with increase in elemental additions. The texture evolution of the product phase is also investigated and found the product phase to grow as a strongly textured one with the elemental additions. A peculiar pattern is observed for the texture of the product phase and its adjacent A or A(x) grains.

Neste trabalho apresentamos o estudo da possivilidade de melhores regimes para o uso dos experimentos de aquecimento e geracao de corrente e fluxo de plasma no tokamak TCABR. Apresentamos um estudo dos efeitos de rotacao de plasma em baixa frequencia (low-frequency (LF)), penetração de campo eletromagnético, absorção e forças ponderomotoras no “Tokamak Chauffage Alfvén Brésilien” (TCABR) com ênfase na faixa de frequências de 0, 5–10, 0kHz. Os campos de LF são dirigidos pelo limitador magnético ergódico (ergodic magnetic limiter (EML)) no TCABR. Foi feito um estudo analítico das ondas de Alfvén e ressonância usando modelos simples. Um estudo num´erico tembém foi realizado utilizando três códigos, quais sejam, o código cinético toroidal, o código cilíndrico e o código ALTOK. / In this work we present the study of the determination the best regimes and parameters¶for the heating experiments and current generation and plasma flow in the tokamak TCABR. Study of effects of plasma rotation in low frequency (LF), field penetration, absorption and ponderomotive forces in “Tokamak Chauffage Alfvén Brésilien” (TCABR)is investigated with emphasis in the frequency range of 0, 5–10, 0kHz. The fields of LF are driven by the ergodic magnetic limiter (EML) in TCABR. A qualitative analytical study of the Alfvén waves and their resonances is performed using simple models. A numeric study was carried out using through three codes, called the kinetic totoidal code, the cylindrical code and the ALTOK code.