Z-Pinch
Z-pinch
In-Zinerator
The Z-Pinch project, initiated by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL),
investigates the scientific principle of a power generation system using the Z
accelerator in a 1000 MWe power plant application. The study integrates the
liquid-protected chamber with the recyclable transmission lines (RTL), and the
cartridge replacement mechanism. The strategy is to use high yield (3 GJ per
shot), low rep rate per chamber (0.1 Hz), and RTL that is manufactured on-site.
Every 10 seconds, the RTL connects the repetitive pulsed power driver to the
target, driving 50-100 MA in 150 nanoseconds. Each pulse destroys the in-chamber
portion of the cartridge. Remote operation using robots to pick up the ignited
cartridge and insert a new one into the chamber seems feasible. Certain features
of the design activity focused on areas unique to the Z-Pinch, including
innovative ideas to establish the jet flow, breeding potential of jets and pool,
chamber wall dimensions, damage profile at chamber wall, and life-cycle waste
classification. Recycling of the RTLs has been recognized as a "must"
requirement to control the radwaste stream and limit the RTL inventory. We at UW
explored the potential of recycling and clearing the RTL materials as an
alternate option to disposal in a geological repository.
The Z-Pinch could be an attractive option for burning actinides (Pu, Np, Am, Cm)
and/or minor actinides (Am, Cm) produced by the fission fuel reprocessing
plants. A Z-transmuter (In-Zinerator) would need a 200 MJ target injected every
10 seconds to transmute the actinides and deliver a net electric power of 1 GW.
Numerous engineering issues were examined: effect of fission products on
neutronics of a sub-critical blanket, coolant choices, tritium breeding
potential, radiation damage to structure, energy deposition and extraction,
tritium and fission product removal, radwaste classification, and safety aspects
of such a device. The Z-Pinch seems to offer advantages over fast reactors in
terms of transmutation efficiency and support ratio, but attention should be
paid to challenging engineering issues.
Publications
UWFDM-1132
Linked Neutronics and Hydrodynamics Calculations for the Z Pinch Driven Target of X-1; M.E. Sawan and R.R. Peterson, October 2000 [presented at the 14th Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy, October 15-19, 2000, Park City UT].
(7 pages, 267 kB)
UWFDM-1295
Preliminary Study of Time-Dependent Isotopic Inventory of the In-Zinerator Actinide Management System; P. Phruksarojanakun, P.P.H. Wilson, L. El-Guebaly, B.B. Cipiti, R. Grady, September 2006.
(13 pages, 697 kB)
UWFDM-1297
Initial Engineering Assessment of Actinide Transmutation in Z-Pinch Power Plant; L. El-Guebaly, B. Cipiti, P.H. Wilson, P. Phruksarojanakun, R. Grady, I. Sviatoslavsky, December 2006 (revised June 2007).
(22 pages, 851 kB)
UWFDM-1302
Analysis of Engineering Issues Facing the In-Zinerator Z-Pinch Fusion Device Using MCNP; R. Grady, P. Phruksarojanakun, P.P.H. Wilson, L.A. El-Guebaly, B. Cipiti, August 2007.
(20 pages, 1.1 MB)
UWFDM-1308
Activation and Waste Stream Analysis for RTL of Z-Pinch Power Plant; L. El-Guebaly, P. Wilson, M. Sawan, November 2006 [presented at the 17th ANS Topical Meeting on Fusion Energy, 13-15 November 2006, Albuquerque NM].
(7 pages, 945 kB)
Z-Pinch IFE Program Final Report for FY05; C.L. Olson et al., 2006 [Sandia National Laboratories report, SAND-2006-7399P (2006)].
Fusion Transmutation of Waste: Design and Analysis of the In-Zinerator Concept; B.B. Cipiti, V.D. Cleary, J.T. Cook et al., Nov. 2006 [Sandia National Laboratories Report SAND2006-6590].
Activation and Waste Stream Analysis for RTL of Z-Pinch Power Plant; L. El-Guebaly, P. Wilson, and M. Sawan, November 2006 [presented at the 17th ANS Topical Meeting on Fusion Energy, 13-15 November 2006, Albuquerque NM].
(1 page, 922 kB)
Z-Pinch Chamber Assessment and Design; L. El-Guebaly, M. Sawan, I. Sviatoslavsky, P. Wilson, G. Sviatoslavsky, G. Kulcinski, November 2006 [presented at the 17th ANS Topical Meeting on Fusion Energy, 13-15 November 2006, Albuquerque NM].
(9 pages, 1.4 MB)
Transmutation of Actinides using Z-Pinch Fusion; B.B. Cipiti, P.P.H. Wilson, P. Phruksarojanakun, and L.A. El-Guebaly, 2007 [Fusion Science and Technology, 52, No. 3, 731-738 (2007)].
Engineering Issues Facing Transmutation of Actinides in Z-Pinch Fusion Power Plant; L. El-Guebaly, B. Cipiti, P. Wilson, P. Phruksarojanakun, R. Grady, and I. Sviatoslavsky, 2007 [Fusion Science and Technology, 52, No. 3, 739-743 (2007)].
