Sheared-flow Stabilized Z-Pinch Reactor Embodiment

The sheared-flow stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch has demonstrated long-length and long-lived Z-pinches with T_i ~ 1-2 keV, n_e > 10^23 m^-3, for 100s of MHD instability growth times. The fusion Z-pinch experiment, FuZE, has shown neutron production over periods of 5-8 us when operated with a 20% D/80% H or He mixture. Yield calculations are >10^5 neutrons per pulse, agreeing with cross-section estimates and scaling as the square of the D concentration. Reactor embodiment for the SFS Z-pinch reactor consists of a vertically-oriented pinch in a cavity formed by Li-Pb flowing over a weir wall. Li-Pb serves as the Z-pinch outer electrode, heat transfer material, tritium breeding blanket, and biological shield. MCNP is used to calculate neutron transport, including the tritium breeding ratio (TBR). Configurations have been found reaching the goal of TBR > 1.1 with the 17% Li/83% Pb eutectic and natural Li-6 enrichment of 7.5%. A model is under development to calculate the time required to build up tritium inventory when starting with D-D operation. Bred tritium is introduced into the deuterium fuel stock, increasing the net TBR, bootstrapping the reactor to 50% D / 50% T. SFS Z-pinch background, results, and reactor embodiment studies will be presented.