Study on flow instability for feasibility of a thin liquid film first wall

• We propose a probability of an instability wave growth on a liquid metal first wall.
• Evaporated gas by the high energy flux is predicted to agitate this instability wave.
• Liquid Pb-17Li with a velocity 10 m/s, the ambient gas must be below 6.2 × 103 Pa.
• This pressure corresponds to 1600 K and it is attainable under a fusion energy flux.
• This probability is not yet verified so the full verifications are to be performed.

This study proposes a probability of the evaporated gas that agitates a growing instability wave in a thin liquid film first wall. The liquid first wall was considered to be in vacuum and the effect of the ambient gas was neglected but the evaporated gas by the high energy fluxes is a probable cause of unstable wave agitation. The criterion is approximately expressed by the density ratio (Q2) and the Weber number (We) as Q2 × We0.5 ≈ 5 × 10−4. Performed indirect experimental supported this criterion. For a case study of liquid Pb-17Li film with a velocity of 10 m/s, the evaporated gas pressure must be below 6.2 × 103 Pa to maintain stable conditions. By recent study, this pressure is generated at 1600 K temperature and it is believed to be attainable by the energy fluxes on the first wall. This result is so far not confirmed so the full verification by experimental is to be performed.