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NIF-0509-16272.ppt 1 Moses- Stanford - LIFE: A Laser Based System for Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future
LIFE: A Path to Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future
Edward I. Moses Principal Associate Director, NIF&PS Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Presented to: Stanford’s Energy Seminar, Stanford May 13, 2009
This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344
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Special Thanks
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It Seems Likely! NIF Provider the capabilities Necessary
to Demonstrate Fusion
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NIF is 705,000 square feet
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NIF is the largest scientific project successfully completed by DOE
Moses- Cafe Scientifique 7
NIF concentrates all the energy in a football stadium-sized facility
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MOVIE: Multipass
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With advanced targets, LIFE systems would become attractive
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3 Commissioning in Target Bay
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One quad of the laser was used to demonstrate the full NIF energy at 3w delivered to TCC with the designer-specified
focal spot and all smoothing methods used simultaneously
1.89 MJ FNE 3 energy N090108-002-999
Requested
Measured 0
1 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
5 0 0
6 0 0
0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6
T i m e ( n s )
3 P
ow
er
(TW
FN
E)
Energy and power on Q34B are multiplied by 48 quads to obtain FNE
Inside the target chamber - National Geographic image
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DT layer formation movie
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Summary
• 192 beams are ready for the start of ignition experiments
• The NIF laser has already demonstrated the precision control needed for tuning campaigns
• The optics maintenance loop strategy and optics finishing improvements support the scheduled NIF trek towards inertial confinement fusion
• Shot Plan projections are based on the experience gained in early NIF operations
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NIF is unique compared to all other lasers built to study Inertial Confinement Fusion
• It is the first laser with a credible chance of reaching ignition
• The NIF 3 energy specification of 1.8 MJ requires an order of magnitude increase in operating fluence over previous ICF lasers
• NIF damage-related work has been focused on meeting this goal
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On high quality surfaces initiated damage sites are very small
• Damage sites are typically initiated with diameters of 20 to 50 μm
— 1 part in 108 of the optic area
• Damage sites initiate at: — “Precursors”
– Flaws in the surface — Contaminants on the surface
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The NIF has met all of it’s project completion criteria
NIF Review Group Membership:
• Mike Dunne, Director, Central Laser Facility
Rutherford Appeleton Lab, UK
• Robert Byer, Co-Director, Stanford Photonics
Research Center Palo Alto, CA
• Chris Edwards, HiPer Project Manager, UK
• Jack Kelly, University of Rochester, LLE, NY
• Hermann Grunder, Former Director Argonne National Laboratory, Il
• Clive Wittenbury, Executive VP, The Erickson
Group, LTD., CA
• John H. Birely, University of CA, Office of the
President, CA
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NIF Fusion Target
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NIF will access density and temperature conditions required for ignition
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Campaigns in the next 4 years
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The National Ignition Facility is nearing completion and will be conducting ignition experiments
starting in 2010
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Fusion energy may be one component in solving our future energy needs
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Wind Expanding Natural Gas Slowing GDP
Limiting Population
Biofuels Nuclear Fission
Nuclear Fusion
CO2 Capture Hydrogen
End-use Efficiency
Photovoltaics
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A life enegine comprises a nif-like laser system, a point source of neutrons and a
subcritical fission blanket
Moses- Cafe Scientifique
LIFE – a Laser Inertial Fusion Engine provides a point source of 14 MeV neutrons for a variety of fusion-
based energy missions
0.5 – 5 x 1020 14 MeV n/sec
Blanket to provide energy specific
missions
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Hot Spot ICF Targets
@ ~15 Hz
0.75-2.5 MJ laser
@ 15 Hz
ICF Gain 15-70 provides
150-1500 MW fusion
Different LIFE blankets provide unique energy systems
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• Li-based salt to make electricity and produce T for other LIFE-based missions
• Coolant with U, DU or TH pebbles for Once-Through Closed Energy Production (> 99.9% burn-up)
• Coolant with fertile or fissile pebbles for Once-Through Closed Waste Burning (> 99.9% burn-up)
– SNF
– WG – Pu, HEU
LIFE blankets options
Moses- Cafe Scientifique
Hot Spot ICF Targets
@ ~15 Hz
0.75-2.5 MJ laser
@ 15 Hz
ICF Gain 15-70 provides
150-1500 MW fusion
0.5 – 5 x 1020 14 MeV n/sec
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A life engine is a closed, self-contained system that breeds and burns its own fuel
while generating gws of power
A life engine is a once-through closed, fuel cycle for DU
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Starting from 40 mt of depleted U, a life engine can generate 2,000 mwth for 50 years without refueling
or reprocessing
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Starting in 2030, LIFE could provide the majority of U.S. baseload electricity
demand into the existing grid
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Life extends the useful service life of deep geologic repositories
Fuel for LIFE is both readily available, nearly limitless and economical
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It is important to note that the LIFE engine is not a critical reactor
• Must maintain keff = 1 to operate
• Neutron source is fission only
• Control based on delayed neutrons
• System sensitive to reactor dynamics
• Reactor shutdown by control rod insertion (SCRAM)
LWR
• Always subcritical / cannot go critical
• Neutron sources are fusion targets, Be(n,2n) and fission blanket
• Control systems based on fusion target output
• System insensitive to reactor dynamics
• Shutdown by turning the laser off and removing decay heat
LIFE Engine
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The baseline, NIF-based LIFE does face technical and scientific challenges
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There are three phases that lead to commercial power from the NIF-based LIFE
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Life can provide clean energy soon and will enable fusion energy for the future
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