After listening to Xu Chuan's words, everyone started thinking.
As the first wall material in the controllable nuclear fusion reactor chamber, currently, whether in China, the United States, or the European Union, the main materials considered are metals and alloys.
The first wall is the inner wall of the equipment that needs to directly face the nuclear reactor thermal radiation and high-temperature particle wind.
At the same time, in order to use nuclear fusion reactions to generate electricity, the thermal radiation and ion wind generated by nuclear fusion must be converted into electrical energy. The equipment that converts thermal radiation and particle wind into electrical energy must also have a first wall. Protect.
In addition to the impact of various high-energy particles such as neutron beam radiation and deuterium, tritium and helium, the first wall material also has to withstand high temperatures.
Although the high-temperature deuterium and tritium plasma in the reactor chamber is confined by a magnetic field and does not contact the first wall material, the first wall material still faces a high temperature of thousands of degrees.
Not every material can withstand such high temperatures. Compared with other materials, the properties of metal materials are undoubtedly more suitable.
This is also the main reason why the current mainstream first wall materials are metal and alloy materials.
But now the person in front of them told them that instead of looking for a resistant material in metal materials, it is better to look at other materials.
This made everyone think deeply.
After thinking for a while, Xing Xuexing, a materials professor at Shuimu University, raised his head and asked: "If you leave aside metal, there are not many materials to choose from."
"In the past few months, I participated in an international materials exchange meeting in Europe. At the meeting, I talked with people about materials for the first wall of controllable nuclear fusion. Europe seems to be studying the use of ceramic materials for the third wall. Feasibility of One Wall Materials ”
"And there are some international research institutions that are optimistic about using nanoceramic materials. This is a new route. Maybe we can also try it?"
Xu Chuan shook his head and said: "I'm afraid ceramics won't work either."
"Although the high-temperature resistance and resistance to neutron irradiation of ceramic materials are good and can be used, the thermal conductivity of ceramics is too poor. If the heat accumulated in the first wall cannot be taken away from the reactor, there will eventually be problems. problem.”
"How about graphene or carbon nanomaterials?" Zhao Guanggui thought for a while and asked: "If we consider the heat resistance, carbon materials can reach more than 3,500 degrees in an oxygen-free environment, surpassing most Part of the metal material.”
"At the same time, some carbon materials also have very good thermal conductivity, such as graphene. Graphene has excellent thermal conductivity, which is conducive to the dissipation of surface heat."
"I have reviewed relevant literature and found that using carbon fiber to replace tungsten and molybdenum and other alloy materials is a technology route that is as promising as nanoceramics in the international field of controlled fusion."
“Even some research institutes are already trying to use carbon nanomaterials to replace some metal materials as the inner wall structure of the first wall.”
Xu Chuan thought for a while and replied: "We can consider carbon materials."
"You are right. Some carbon materials can withstand temperatures above three thousand degrees when not in contact with air and oxidants. In terms of high temperature resistance, carbon materials can be comparable to the melting point of tungsten, which meets the needs of the first wall material. ”
"But if applied to a controllable nuclear fusion reactor, carbon materials also have a fatal shortcoming at high temperatures."
Hearing this, other people looked over.
Xu Chuan smiled and continued: "Don't forget that the fuel of DT controllable nuclear fusion is mainly deuterium and tritium. They are both isotopes of hydrogen and have the chemical properties of hydrogen."
"Once the high-temperature plasma of these two substances hits the carbon material, it is easily absorbed by the carbon. In addition to adsorption, there is also chemical action to turn the carbon into organic matter."
"Not only will it change the properties of the material and affect the performance of the first wall, it will also consume nuclear fusion fuel and reduce the efficiency of nuclear fusion, especially the absorption of expensive and radioactive tritium elements, which is very uncomfortable for us. Hope to see.”
"After all, there is not enough tritium in the first place, it is scarce. If it is absorbed by the first wall material, we will be in big trouble."
"However, carbon nanomaterials can indeed be considered. Putting aside this fatal shortcoming, carbon nanomaterials are actually very suitable in theory."
After a pause, Xu Chuan looked up at Zhao Guanggui and said with a smile: "As for how to solve this shortcoming, I leave this problem to you, Professor Zhao."
"Professor Zhao, please lead a group to study it in the future. This may be a feasible way."
Hearing this, Zhao Guanggui was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up and he became excited: "I will try my best!"
Being able to independently lead a project team in a super project like controllable nuclear fusion is a huge opportunity.
With this experience, no matter where you go to work in the future, you will be eager to get it.
And when doing research here, you don’t have to worry about research funding.
With this big boss in front of me, funding is not a problem.
Of course, this does not mean that he can squander the funds at will, nor can he put the funds in his own pocket, but at least, in terms of research trial and error, exploring new routes, etc., he does not have to worry about the funds being lost due to long-term lack of results. Interrupt. When engaging in academia, most people still focus on feelings and dreams.
Who doesn’t want to publish a few articles in top SCI journals? Who doesn’t want to make a research result that will leave a name in history?
Xu Chuan didn't pay much attention to this, smiled and encouraged: "Come on. Even if this road cannot be explored, I hope you can find something useful on carbon nanomaterials."
On the side, Zhao Hongzhi asked curiously: "Academician Xu, apart from nanoceramics and carbon nanomaterials, what is your choice?"
Hearing this, others also looked over, curious about what Xu Chuan's choice was.
After all, after the boss vetoed metal materials, nano-ceramics and carbon nano-materials, there was little room for choice of first-wall materials.
Xu Chuan smiled and said: "To be honest, I don't have any suitable material selection route, but I can think of ways to deal with other radiations besides neutron radiation."
"????"
In the laboratory, many people had question marks on their faces, but soon, some people responded.
Xing Xuexing, a professor of materials at Shuimu University, asked with interest: "Is this the 'nuclear beta radiation energy concentration and conversion of electrical energy' technology that Academician Xu used in the past two years to generate electricity from nuclear waste?"
Before joining the Qixia Controlled Nuclear Fusion Project, he had some understanding of the extremely young boss in front of him.
Apart from his theoretical achievements in mathematics, physics and astronomy, this big man's achievements in the field of materials science can also be said to be the pinnacle in the country.
Others may not feel much about it. After all, in terms of theory, the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal, the Seven Millennium Problems, etc. are too big a name.
But as a person in the field of nuclear energy materials, how could he not be aware of the technology that can solve nuclear waste?
Nuclear waste is a top problem in the world. Since nuclear energy was used, nuclear radiation has been a huge problem for all countries.
If it weren't for the miracle that the man in front of him had created in the past two years, I'm afraid China would still be having headaches with more and more nuclear waste.
Of course, he only knew that there was such a technology that could solve the radiation problem, but he didn't know exactly what it was like.
After all, this is the core of the technology of "nuclear energy beta radiation energy concentration and conversion into electrical energy" technology, something that is strictly confidential.
Hearing Professor Xing Xuexing's words, Xu Chuan chuckled and nodded, saying: "That's right. Among the 'Nuclear Energy Beta Radiation Energy Concentration and Conversion to Electric Energy Mechanism' technology, there is a technology specifically used to construct materials called 'Atomic Cycle' .”
"The harm of various types of radiation lies in its super ionization ability, which can destroy the grain boundaries, structure and other properties of traditional materials, causing the material to become embrittled, weakened and lose its characteristics.
"But what if there is a material whose grain boundary structure repair speed can keep up with the ionization ability of nuclear radiation? Does that mean it can perfectly intercept all kinds of radiation?"
"'Atomic Cycle Technology' is based on this theory."
"The materials constructed through this technology can quickly repair themselves after being damaged by radiation and the grain boundaries are ionized, and then re-condensate into a stable grain boundary structure."
"I think that if we find a suitable material and construct it through this technology, it should be able to serve as the first wall material to face various radiations and high-energy particles of high-temperature plasma."
When he returned to China three years ago, he thought about how to proceed on the road of controllable nuclear fusion.
The first project I took over after returning to China was, on the one hand, indeed a solution to the problem of nuclear waste. On the other hand, it was perhaps paving the way for controllable nuclear fusion.
The two technologies of 'atom circulation' and 'radiation crystal structure' are theoretically no problem when used on the first wall of a controllable nuclear fusion reactor chamber.
Xing Xuexing thought for a moment with interest and said: "I have learned about some things about nuclear waste before. Theoretically, materials that can handle the radiation problem of high-concentration nuclear waste should be no problem when applied to the first wall. ”
"Of course, the selection of materials synthesized using the technology you mentioned needs to be considered. At least attention needs to be paid to temperature, particle impact resistance, etc."
After a pause, Xing Xuexing then asked curiously: "The impact of radiation and high-energy particles can be absorbed, but what about neutron beams and neutron irradiation?"
"You must know that the most difficult problem faced by the first wall material is neutron irradiation. Neutron irradiation carrying strong energy can destroy the structure of all materials and even cause cavity structures, causing the overall swelling and brittleness of the first wall material. ”
"I think your technology shouldn't be able to absorb neutrons, right? At least large-scale absorption is impossible."
"After all, neutrons are still useful in controllable nuclear fusion. If they are absorbed, tritium self-sustainment will not be completed."
"So what do you do with neutrons?"
PS: There is another chapter tonight, please vote