Liquid metal film flow for fusion application

Abstract

Liquid metal film flow with a free surface is promising for application in Tokamak reactor diverter targets. Experiments with film flow of the eutectic alloy In-Ga-Sn on an inclined chute in a coplanar magnetic field have been conducted as a first step toward such target development. The chute width and length were, respective, 90 and 620 mm, the initial film thickness 4 mm, the mean velocity 0.18-1.25 m/s, and the magnetic field induction up to 0.6 T. The film mean thickness over the chute width and length was measured as well as the surface wave amplitude. The measured distribution of the film thickness over the length was compared with the calculated one based on one-and two-dimensional models. The correlation is satisfactory in the range of experimental characteristic parameters.