Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
The mathematical connection of fusionpower and aerospace engineering
Minh-Binh TRAN
Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Spain
October 14, 2014
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Outline
1 Fusion Energy
2 Aerospace Engineering
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
What is fusion?
Figure: Is this the Ford Fusion?
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
What is fusion?
Figure: Is this the Gillette Fusion?
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
What is fusion?
Figure: Sun
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Fusion Energy
Fusion is the process that powers the Sun.
Fusion releases energy as a result of two light atoms suchas hydrogen joining together to form a helium atom.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
It is fusion energy that makes all life on Earth possible.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Fusion and Fission
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Fusion: the advantages
On Earth, the fuel for fusion reactors will be two forms(isotopes) of hydrogen gas: deuterium and tritium.If all the deuterium in one litre of water was fused withtritium it could produce as much electricity as burning 340litres of petrol!No transport of radioactive materials is needed for theday-to-day running of a fusion power plant.Fusion process will not create greenhouse gases orlong-lasting radioactive waste.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
How do we get controlled nuclear fusion?
Figure: Mr. Fusion Home Energy Reactor - Back to the Future(1985)?
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
How do we get controlled nuclear fusion?
Figure: Terminator Skynet Global Digital Defense Network?
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Tokamak : a plasma heart
To produce fusion, tritium and deuterium must be heatedaround 100 million degree Celcius.At this high temperature −→ a plasma.Plasma is an ionised gas in which electrons are removedfrom gas atoms.The high-temperature plasma should be controlled in atokamak.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Tokamak, a plasma heart
Figure: The Joint European Torus (JET), in the United Kingdom
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Landau kinetic equation
A kinetic equation for a weakly interacting gas: the transferequation of charged particles in a plasma with Coulombcollisions taken into account.Obtained by L.D. Landau.
Plasma spreads out and approaches an equilibrium state.People believed that this happened only because of thecollisions between atoms. However Landau argued thatthe plasma would converge toward equilibrium. Villanifinally proved Landau right.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Hypersonic Aerodynamics
Hypersonic vehicles are commonplace: missiles, launchvehicles, etc.Technical problems of designing hypersonic vehicles
Temperature and aerodynamic heatingPressureBlunt shapesControl and stability issues lead to different shapesEngine-airframe Integration
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Temperature and aerodynamic heating
The X-15, the only real manned hypersonic airplane flown.The first flight, by Scott Crossfield, in June 1959.Crackling sounds in the airframe as it heated up.The shock interference heating was so severe that theshocks acted as a blowtorch.Internal damage to the airplane from the heating.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Surface pressure
In many cases surface pressures are relatively easy to estimateat hypersonic speeds.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Blunt shapes
Since round shapes have lots of drag, why do we see suchhighly rounded shapes? Answer: the heat transfer.We need the tip not to melt.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Control and stability
The thick trailing edge on the vertical tail of the X-15.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Engine-airframe Integration
Any air-breathing hypersonic vehicle will have a highlyintegrated engine and airframe.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Roles of mathematics
Understanding rarefied gas effects in aerospace applications isimportant for an accurate calculation of the aerodynamiccoefficients during the early phase of the entry of a spacecapsule into a planetary atmosphere, prediction of the heat fluxduring entry and descent, and also a correct interpretation ofexperimental measurements.
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
Boltzmann and Landau equations
Boltzmann equation
Landau equation
Fusion Energy Aerospace Engineering
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!