Design of the Fliqure Experiment

A preliminary design is presented for the FLIQURE or Fusion LIQUid Release Experiment. This experimental system is designed to measure the mobilization of tritium, fluorine, and other constituents in molten Flibe following trace neutron irradiation at fusion-relevant temperatures (500-1000°C). Trace neutron irradiation is achieved using a spontaneous fission ²⁵²Cf source that produces a relatively uniform concentration of tritium in the Flibe. The experimental goals aim to better understand the mechanisms, mobilization rates, and physiochemical forms of tritium mobilized from the Flibe along with other potentially detectable radioactive isotopes and toxic-material species under inert-gas, air, and steam-ingress conditions. System design details are discussed which include neutronic studies to optimize tritium production, thermal design to maintain and isolate molten Flibe, and instrumentation to meet experimental goals.