Improved Ceramic Pebbles for Fusion Blankets Topic:23 Subtopic:b

Skyhaven Systems, LLC proposes to develop a method to improve the overall heat transfer within ceramic pebble beds used in nuclear fusion breeder blankets. The Phase I effort will be used to develop processes for forming non-spherical shaped ceramic pebbles and demonstrating enhanced heat transfer within a packed bed structure. The materials produced in Phase I will be characterized for size, shape, morphology, density, and crush strength. Effective thermal conductivity and pressure drop of the fabricated pebbles in a packed bed will be measured and compared against spherical pebbles. The proposed packed bed configuration is expected to lead to improved blanket thermal control, the possibility for more efficient blanket designs, and an improved tritium breeding ratio. The Phase II effort will scale the process, further optimize both the pebble properties and the bed packing, examine heat transfer under various gas flow and mechanical stress conditions, measure tritium release and irradiation effects, and establish a cost model for the proposed methods.The primary application will be for use in nuclear fusion breeder blankets. Other applications for the technology are seen in the chemical catalyst industry where packed bed designs are common. Fisher-Tropsch reactions are an example of one area where these types of improvements are sought.