The present disclosure provides a sample holder assembly for a laser flash apparatus for measuring a thermal conductivity of a pebble-bed, the assembly comprising: a tubular sample container configured to be mounted on a sample carrier tube for the laser flash apparatus, wherein the sample container has open top and bottom; a bottom disc disposed in the sample container to block the open bottom of the sample container and configured for delivering a laser from a laser flash unit of the apparatus to a pebble-bed; the pebble-bed packed on the bottom disc to a predetermined thickness; and a top disc disposed on the pebble-bed and in the sample container to block the open top of the sample container and configured for receiving heat from the pebble-bed to transfer the heat upward.

Apparatus and methods for jet impingement cooling are provided. In one arrangement, a fluid channeling structure engages against a target surface to define a flow volume. Fluid is jetted onto the target surface from inlets and is removed via outlets. Flow directing features form a plurality of channels with no straight paths between inlets and outlets. A time averaged flow direction of fluid in contact with each flow directing feature is more nearly perpendicular to a direction of jetting of the fluid from a nearest inlet than parallel to the direction of jetting One or more pairs of the inlets and outlets are such that a majority of fluid jetted onto the target surface from the inlet of the pair will be removed from the flow volume through the outlet of the same pair.

Apparatus and methods for jet impingement cooling are provided. In one arrangement, a fluid channeling structure engages against a target surface to define a flow volume. Fluid is jetted onto the target surface from inlets and is removed via outlets. Flow directing features form a plurality of channels with no straight paths between inlets and outlets. A time averaged flow direction of fluid in contact with each flow directing feature is more nearly perpendicular to a direction of jetting of the fluid from a nearest inlet than parallel to the direction of jetting One or more pairs of the inlets and outlets are such that a majority of fluid jetted onto the target surface from the inlet of the pair will be removed from the flow volume through the outlet of the same pair.

According to various embodiments, an FRC fusion reactor is disclosed. The FRC fusion reactor includes a main chamber containing an FRC core and an energy and ash removal shell (EARS). The FRC fusion reactor further includes at least one divertor chamber connected to the main chamber via a divertor throat. The divertor chamber includes a plasma extruder positioned on a major axis of the FRC fusion reactor and a controllable distance along the major axis from the divertor throat. The plasma extruder has a diameter approximately a diameter of the divertor throat and is configured to block plasma flow towards the FRC core to create a gap region between the FRC core and the EARS.

According to various embodiments, an FRC fusion reactor is disclosed. The FRC fusion reactor includes a main chamber containing an FRC core and an energy and ash removal shell (EARS). The FRC fusion reactor further includes at least one divertor chamber connected to the main chamber via a divertor throat. The divertor chamber includes a plasma extruder positioned on a major axis of the FRC fusion reactor and a controllable distance along the major axis from the divertor throat. The plasma extruder has a diameter approximately a diameter of the divertor throat and is configured to block plasma flow towards the FRC core to create a gap region between the FRC core and the EARS.

A breeder blanket for generating tritium using neutrons produced by nuclear fusion of deuterium and/or tritium within a plasma confined within a fusion reactor. The breeder blanket comprises: a plasma-facing first wall; a breeder layer comprising lithium containing material for generating tritium from the neutrons; and neutron moderator material comprising metal hydride and/or deuteride arranged between the first wall and the lithium-containing material.

A breeder blanket for generating tritium using neutrons produced by nuclear fusion of deuterium and/or tritium within a plasma confined within a fusion reactor. The breeder blanket comprises: a plasma-facing first wall; a breeder layer comprising lithium containing material for generating tritium from the neutrons; and neutron moderator material comprising metal hydride and/or deuteride arranged between the first wall and the lithium-containing material.

A thermonuclear reactor is provided having a vacuum casing and blanket modules connected thereto with flexible supports. The flexible supports are formed from a material with high electrical conductivity. Each flexible support is secured at one end on the vacuum casing and at the other end on a blanket module, the two secured ends of each flexible support face the blanket module. The flexible support is formed from two hollow cylindrical elements placed one in the other and perforated by longitudinal slots in a part free from mountings. The ends of the hollow cylindrical elements opposite the secured ends are connected electrically and mechanically. The technical result consists in diverting eddy currents away from a blanket module of a thermonuclear reactor and simultaneously eliminating electrical connectors from the composition of a blanket and reducing bunching on a blanket module side facing the vacuum casing.

A thermonuclear reactor is provided having a vacuum casing and blanket modules connected thereto with flexible supports. The flexible supports are formed from a material with high electrical conductivity. Each flexible support is secured at one end on the vacuum casing and at the other end on a blanket module, the two secured ends of each flexible support face the blanket module. The flexible support is formed from two hollow cylindrical elements placed one in the other and perforated by longitudinal slots in a part free from mountings. The ends of the hollow cylindrical elements opposite the secured ends are connected electrically and mechanically. The technical result consists in diverting eddy currents away from a blanket module of a thermonuclear reactor and simultaneously eliminating electrical connectors from the composition of a blanket and reducing bunching on a blanket module side facing the vacuum casing.

The invention relates to a method for eliminating neutrons from fission, fusion or aneutronic nuclear reactions in a reactor (100), in particular in a laser-driven nuclear fusion reactor (100) which operates with hydrogen and the boron-11 isotope, in which method at least some moderated neutrons are made to undergo a nuclear reaction with tin (11). As a result of the nuclear reactions with tin, the neutrons convert the tin nuclei into stable nuclei having a higher atomic weight resulting from neutron capture. The invention also relates to a reactor (100) which is designed for energy conversion by means of fission, fusion or aneutronic nuclear reactions and for generating electric energy, wherein the reactor contains a neutron elimination device (50) which contains tin and is arranged such that at least some moderated neutrons are made to undergo a nuclear reaction with the tin.