Resistive sensor and electromagnetic actuator for feedback stabilization of liquid metal walls in fusion reactors

TL;DR

This paper introduces resistive sensors and electromagnetic actuators designed to actively stabilize liquid metal walls in fusion reactors by measuring thickness and applying corrective forces.

Contribution

It presents a novel combination of resistive sensors and jxB actuators for real-time feedback control of liquid metal wall stability in fusion reactors.

Findings

Resistive sensors effectively measure liquid metal thickness.

Electromagnetic actuators can control liquid metal position.

The system enables active stabilization of liquid metal walls.

Abstract

Liquid metal walls in fusion reactors will be subject to instabilities, turbulence, induced currents, error fields and temperature gradients that will make them locally bulge, thus entering in contact with the plasma, or deplete, hence exposing the underlying solid substrate. To prevent this, research has begun to actively stabilize static or flowing liquid metal layers by locally applying forces in feedback with thickness measurements. Here we present resistive sensors of liquid metal thickness and demonstrate jxB actuators, to locally control it.