Numerical analysis of using a fluidized bed as a prototypic mass production device for IFE target layering

A fluidized bed has been identified as a very promising method for mass production of Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) targets. While large beds could be filled with many targets to provide large-scale production, a proof of principle can be achieved by small scale laboratory experiments. The near-isothermal environment required for smooth layering to meet the specifications for the ice layer can be maintained, in principle, around each target through the random movement and spin of individual targets in a precisely controlled gas stream. Pre-experimental numerical studies have been performed to define the window of parameters, in which the layering process can be expected to work optimally. These numerical analyses address several topics, including the effect of unbalanced spheres on the bed behavior and ultimately on the target thermal environment, as well as effects of target collisions. The influence of the thermal environment around an individual target on the layer formation needs to be assessed and used as input for the fluidized bed model, as it affects the unbalance of the individual spheres.