A dense plasma focus device (DPF) is a pulsed power device that generates high energy particles, neutrons and X-rays through rapid compression of the plasma. The presented research investigates the modification of the DPF and use of numerical modelling to predict the neutron yield. The DPF is a 1 kJ device that uses a 1.3 uF capacitor and operated at 40 kV pulse. Spark gap switch SG181-C is integrated into the driver circuit to handle high current operations. Bus work is designed and modeled to predict the current waveform generated by the modified DPF. The control system is designed to be suitable for automation using DAQ and LabVIEW. Radial trajectories during pinch formation are analyzed using a numerical model. Two numerical models are used to investigate how neutron yield varies with pressure, pinch current and pinch duration. The modified DPF showed the neutron scaling to be fourth power of the pinch current. / Master of Science / Nuclear fusion has been researched widely for decades as a solution to meet the demand of increasing energy needs. Controlled fusion reactions has been the main challenge to achieve this and various approaches have been explored using different confinement methods. All the approaches have advantages with different challenges. One approach being explored is the dense plasma focus (DPF) device, which uses electrical discharges to create a dense 'pinch' of plasma where fusion reactions occur when operated in deuterium fuel gas. Recent DPF experiments have shown that kJ range devices are capable of generating neutrons and intense radiation. This research gives an overview of the DPF with energy of 1 kJ range. The DPF is modelled to predict the pinch formation parameters. The model also predicts how neutron yield varies with operating pressure, pinch current and duration.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/121121 |
| Date | 11 September 2024 |
| Creators | Reuben, Rachel Aaron |
| Contributors | Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Adams, Colin, England, Scott Leslie, Pierson, Mark Alan |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
Page generated in 0.012 seconds