VIRIAL THEOREM LIMITATIONS FOR THE TOROIDAL MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE CAUSED BY THE LOCATION OF SUPPORT STRUCTURE ELEMENTS AND THEIR MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Based on the virial theorem, the influence of the following factors to characteristics of mechanical support systems of toroidal magnetic energy storage is considered: the configuration of the coils, the support system elements location under compressive forces, the mechanical properties of the material, the distribution of the cross-sectional areas of the support rings and the corresponding distribution of radial forces. It is established that the volume of structure requirement depends only on the radii from which the coils transmit forces to the support rings. The found general relation, in contrast to the existing ones, establishes a relationship between all the parameters that determine the volume of the support structures. The characteristics of support systems are analyzed both for identical mechanical stresses and for identical mechanical properties of all support elements. The characteristics for specific examples of toroidal systems with circular coils are found. It is shown that systems with support elements in compression located on the side of the vertical axis of the torus have a significantly smaller volume of structure compared to other locations. The influence of the relative radial size of the torus cross-section and the distribution of the cross-sectional areas of the support rings on the structure requirement is analyzed. The relationship between dimensionless characteristics that determine the volume of elements subjected to mechanical stresses of compression and tension is noted. References 37, figures 8, table 1.