Hydraulic analysis on effects of back-plate deformation upon stability of high-speed free-surface lithium flow for IFMIF target design

For engineering design of liquid lithium (Li) target of the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF), two-dimensional hydraulic analysis was performed using code FLUENT. The analysis clarified effects of smooth deformation at the center of the back-plate part of the flow channel upon velocity and pressure in the high-speed free-surface Li flow. Convex deformations caused decrease in jet thickness and thus increase in velocity and decrease in pressure. Convex deformations caused vice versa. Acceptable limit of the back-plate deformation to avoid Li boiling in IFMIF target was 1.0 mm for the convex deformation and 3.0 mm for the concave deformation. Spatial range of the effects of the deformation was localized around deformation as far as no boiling.