Modeling results for mass production layering in a fluidized bed

A fluidized bed has been proposed as a layering device for the mass production of inertial fusion energy fuel pellets. During this layering process, the frozen deuterium or deuterium–tritium mixture filled into a hollow capsule (about 2–4 mm in diameter) is redistributed leading to a fuel layer of uniform thickness on the inside of the fuel capsule. l physical processes have been identified to interact with each other to influence the outcome of the layering process in a fluidized bed, which needs to fulfill symmetry requirements of the fuel layer thickness, smoothness and surface damage requirements of the outside target surface and must be able to produce a large number of targets (500 000 per day). This work describes the development and use of numerical tools to conduct a trade-off study focusing on the influence of different flow conditions of the fluidizing gas on the total layering time, final layer uniformity and outer surface damage.