Speaker
Description
In Moonshot program 10, a novel high-power neutron source based on deuteron accelerator is being developed for fusion materials irradiation experiments. This project aims to achieve higher neutron yields than the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) through the same mechanism—stripping reactions between deuterium and a liquid-lithium target. While IFMIF accelerates deuterium up to 250 mA, this project targets an unprecedented 1 A. Due to the significantly increased heat load associated with this high-current operation, precise control of the liquid lithium target is essential to ensure safe and stable operation.
In this study, thermal–hydraulic analyses were performed to assess target soundness under the 1 A operation scenario. A simplified two-dimensional model of the lithium target was constructed, and numerical simulations were carried out using OpenFOAM version 2512 to evaluate temperature distributions and flow velocity fields. Based on the simulation results, the optimal lithium flow velocity required to maintain the target temperature below its boiling point was also investigated.