A novel microfluidic system for the mass production of Inertial Fusion Energy shells

5th Target Fabrication Workshop

Inoue, N.T.^1

Cardiff University, School of Engineering, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff

CF24 3AA, United Kingdom^1

关键词: Compound emulsions;    Continuous production;    Disruptive technology;    Dripping regimes;    Inertial fusion energy;    Micro fluidic system;    Satellite droplets;    Spherical polymers;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/713/1/012011/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/713/1/012011

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

A system which can mass produce millimetre sized spherical polymer shells economically and with high precision will be a great step towards the Inertial Fusion Energy goal. Microfluidics has shown itself to be a disruptive technology, where a rapid and continuous production of compound emulsions can be processed into such shells. Planar emulsion generators co-flow-focus in one step (COFON) and cascaded co-flow- focus (COFUS) enable millimetre compound emulsions to be produced using a one or two step formation process respectively. The co-flow-focus geometry uses symmetric and curved carrier fluid entrance walls to create a focusing orifice-minima and a carrier flow which aids movement and shaping of the dispersed fluid(s) towards the outlet, whilst maintaining operation in the dripping regime. Precision concentric alignment of these compound emulsions remains one of the greatest challenges. However steps to solve this passively using curved channel modulation to perturbate the emulsion have shown that rapid alignment can be achieved. Issues with satellite droplet formation, repeatability of the emulsion generation and cost are also addressed.