Control of Imploding Metal Liners

This project will help the industrial partner design tests to prove a concept for fusion energy production. In the tests, metal cylinders (and other shaped liners) are dynamically collapsed to compress a high temperature plasma to fusion conditions. This highly dynamic event, however, may result in some of the metal from the cylinder contaminating the plasma. A strong shock wave can result in material leaving the wall of the cylinder, or the impact of one metal surface on another can result in jetting of metal. The metal liner can also buckle or rupture. All of these undesirable processes would contaminate the plasma and terminate the test. The process by which this metal debris is generated will be studied and techniques to control it developed.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andrew Higgins

Student:

Jason Loiseau

Partner:

General Fusion Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Environmental industry

University:

McGill University