A high-speed beam of lithium droplets for collecting diverted energy and particles in ITER

A high-speed (160 m/s) beam (0.14×0.86 m) of liquid-lithium droplets passing through the divertor region(s) below (and above) the main plasma has the potential to replace and out-perform conventional solid divertor plates in both heat and particle removal. In addition to superior heat-collection properties, the lithium beam would: (1) remove impurities; (2) have a negligible MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) lithium-circulation pressure drop; (3) exhibit low-recycle divertor operation compatible with lower-hybrid current drive, H-mode plasma confinement, and no flow reversal in the edge plasma; (4) be insensitive to plasma shifts; and (5) protect solid structures from the plasma thermal energy for those disruptions that deposit energy preferentially into the divertor while simultaneously being rapidly reestablished after a major disruption. Scoping calculations identifying the beam configuration and the droplet dynamics, including formation, MHD effects, gravitational effects, thermal response and hydrodynamics are presented. Limitations and uncertainties are also discussed