Patent App. (2009 abstract)

[BS-Fusion]

@Red

nothing say laminar flow like shoving molten, radioactive lava into the belly of a violently burping and benching thermonuclear blast chamber.

Thanks Red, I love your negativity. But this issue was previously addressed elsewhere, where assumptions where listed and the conclusion was posted:

@BS-Fusion

Flow Regime: Laminar vs. Turbulent

The Reynolds number (Re) determines whether flow is laminar or turbulent:

Re= \frac{\rho v D}{\mu}

Where:

• ρ = 2000 kg/m³
• v = 0.08 m/s (fluid velocity)
• D = 1 m (characteristic length, e.g., pipe diameter)
• μ = 3 Pa·s (dynamic viscosity)

Result:

Re= \frac{2000 \cdot 0.08 \cdot 1}{3} ≈ 53

This is well below the turbulence threshold (Re > 4000), indicating laminar flow.

That example assumed thick, corn-syrupy FLiBe. A thinner mixture with water-like viscosity can be produced by adding LiF or increasing the LiF/BeF2 ratio. Because low-viscosity mixtures can circulate more efficiently through heat-exchangers, they are more desirable. Regardless, with two additional control-parameters (flow velocity & pipe diameter), adjusting the Reynolds number to maintain laminar flow should be easy.

In a typical power plant, the coolant circulates 1 to 3 meters per second. In my example (above), the coolant flows 0.08 m/s. That, arbitrary chosen flow rate, leaves lots of room for increased capacity. However, an increased flow rate may not be necessary, because the thermal output is already substantial:

W= \frac{2414\space J}{kg\space K}*350\space K*\frac{2000 \space kg}{m^3}*\pi\space 0.5^2m^2*\frac{0.08\space m}{s}

= 106,000,000 \space Watts.