LIFE: A Path to Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future

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

NIF-0509-16272.ppt Moses- Stanford - LIFE: A Laser Based System for Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future 2

Special Thanks


It Seems Likely! NIF Provider the capabilities Necessary

to Demonstrate Fusion


NIF-0509-16275.ppt Moses- Cafe Scientifique 6

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


MOVIE: Multipass


With advanced targets, LIFE systems would become attractive


3 Commissioning in Target Bay


13

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


10mm

Heaters

Heater

Thermal sensors

Silicon arms

DT layer formation movie


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

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


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


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


NIF Fusion Target


NIF will access density and temperature conditions required for ignition


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

28 Moses- Stanford - LIFE: A Laser Based System for Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future


Humankind challenges

Fusion energy may be one component in solving our future energy needs


Wind Expanding Natural Gas Slowing GDP

Limiting Population

Biofuels Nuclear Fission

Nuclear Fusion

CO2 Capture Hydrogen

End-use Efficiency

Photovoltaics

Two major possibilities for fusion energy


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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


Starting from 40 mt of depleted U, a life engine can generate 2,000 mwth for 50 years without refueling

or reprocessing



Starting in 2030, LIFE could provide the majority of U.S. baseload electricity

demand into the existing grid


Life extends the useful service life of deep geologic repositories

Fuel for LIFE is both readily available, nearly limitless and economical


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


The baseline, NIF-based LIFE does face technical and scientific challenges


There are three phases that lead to commercial power from the NIF-based LIFE


Life can provide clean energy soon and will enable fusion energy for the future


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Life: Laser Inertial fusion-fission energy

LIFE: A Path to Sustainable, Carbon-Free Energy Future

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