Conceptual Model of a Solid Energy Storage for the Pulsed Demonstration Fusion Power Plant

One of the fundamental issues of the pulse fusion power plants is the appropriate storage of thermal energy during the burn phase and idle phase to ensure the steady-state thermal and flow conditions of the coolant through the turbine. Accumulation of power into the solid heat accumulator is one of the feasible solutions, which, together with its controlled bypass, would allow to achieve steady-state coolant parameters during the burn and idle phases. This paper presents a prototypal model of the solid energy storage. The model is based on the CFD parametric calculations that determine the thermal and flow characteristics of the storage depending on its charge status.