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Magnetohydrodynamic Vapor Explosions: A Study with Potential Interest to the Safety of Fusion Reactor Project

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Abstract

In this paper, the possibility of vapor explosions in superheat liquids in presence of a magnetic field that undergo sudden variation of magnetic field is discussed. This possible phenomenon may play a very important role in the blanket design of future fusion reactors, where transients in magnetic field on liquid metals, could will be a potential hazard for safety.

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Abbreviations

B :

Magnetic field

f :

Bubble departure frequency

p :

Pressure

J :

Number of bubbles per unit volume per unit time which grow beyond critical size

T :

Superheat

T SN :

Spontaneous nucleation temperature

W :

Minimum work to make a bubble

Z :

Zeldovich factor

κb :

Boltzmann constant

ρ:

Density

σ:

Surface tension

μ:

Magnetic permeability

v :

Vapor

l :

Liquid

B :

In presence of magnetic field

0:

Reference value when B = 0

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Professor. Perez Madrid of department of fundamental physics of the University of Barcelona, Spain and F.J.A. presents this work as a thesis to the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering at the Technical University of Catalonia, in partial fulfillment with the requirements for the PhD Degree. Portion of this work was performed under auspices and financial support of the Council for Nuclear Safety CSN-Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain

    F. J. Arias

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  1. F. J. Arias
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Correspondence to F. J. Arias.

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Arias, F.J. Magnetohydrodynamic Vapor Explosions: A Study with Potential Interest to the Safety of Fusion Reactor Project. J Fusion Energ 29, 161–164 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-009-9250-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-009-9250-x

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