Century: Zap Energy’s 100-kW-Scale Repetitive Sheared-Flow-Stabilized Z-Pinch System with Liquid Metal Cooling

Zap Energy is developing the sheared-flow-stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch concept for commercial applications. The SFS Z-pinch relies on plasma self-organization, in the sense that plasma dynamics play a critical role in confinement. Using plasma axial current for confinement and compression eliminates the need for external confinement or heating technologies. This compact magnetic confinement technology could, in turn, provide the basis for a cost-effective deuterium-tritium fusion power plant. In addition to a robust experimental program pushing plasma performance toward breakeven conditions, Zap Energy has parallel programs developing power handling systems suitable for future power plants. Technologies under development include high average power repetitive pulsed power, high duty cycle cathodes, and liquid metal wall systems. Century is the name of Zap Energy’s first effort to integrate these three components into an operational system capable of firing nonreacting hydrogen SFS Z-pinch plasmas into a liquid metal–lined container at sustained repetition rates on the order of 0.1 Hz. The pulsed power driver and liquid metal heat exchanger are both designed to sustain input powers of 100 kW. Construction and initial operations with an interim ~10-kW liquid metal heat exchanger are described.