AbstractLiquid walls interposed between the microexplosions and the chamber structural wall give an inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant designer flexibility and result in profound advantages. For example, the fusion chamber walls behind the liquid can be made using existing materials (e.g. steel) and last as long as the plant itself without replacement while still meeting non-nuclear-grade construction standards and low level waste requirements. Development can be foreshortened and costs can be reduced by obviating the need for expensive neutron sources to develop first-wall materials. Over the last two decades the idea of using liquid wall protection has been employed in a number of laser, light-ion, and heavy-ion designs, for example, BLASCON, HYLIFE-I, HIBALL, Libra-SP, Cascade, Osiris, HYLIFE-II and others. The liquids found suitable are Li, Flibe (Li2BeF4), and Li17Pb83. The cost of electricity is lowered (depending on how many interior structures need periodic replacement, if any) by as much as 35%, and gives in one case 3.2¢ (kW h)−1 at 2 GW (electric) (4.4¢ (kW h)−1 at 1 GW (electric)). The evolution of ideas illustrated in the designs listed above is reviewed with an emphasis on heavy ion designs. New target designs permit one-sided illumination giving the power plant designer yet more flexibility. It is important to remember that a practical IFE power plant requires, in addition to liquid walls, development of ignition and sufficient gain in targets, low cost, efficient, rep-ratable drivers, and low cost targets.
液体壁置于微型爆炸与腔室结构壁之间，为惯性聚变能（IFE）发电厂设计者提供了灵活性，并带来了显著优势。例如，液体后方的聚变腔室壁可采用现有材料（如钢）制造，且其使用寿命可与电厂本身相当，无需更换，同时仍能满足非核级建造标准及低放射性废物要求。通过省去开发抗中子第一壁材料的昂贵需求，可缩短开发周期并降低成本。在过去二十年中，液体壁保护的概念已被应用于多种激光、轻离子及重离子驱动方案中，例如BLASCON、HYLIFE-I、HIBALL、Libra-SP、Cascade、Osiris、HYLIFE-II等。适用的液体包括Li、Flibe（Li2BeF4）及Li17Pb83。发电成本可降低（取决于需要定期更换的内部结构数量，若有的话）高达35%，在某一案例中，2 GW（电）电厂的电价为3.2美分/（千瓦·时），而1 GW（电）电厂为4.4美分/（千瓦·时）。上述设计方案的演变过程已得到综述，并重点讨论了重离子驱动方案。新的靶标设计允许单侧照射，从而为发电厂设计者提供了更大的灵活性。必须牢记，一个实用的IFE发电厂除了液体壁之外，还需要开发靶标的点火与足够增益、低成本高效率可重复运行的驱动器，以及低成本靶标。