SOLEDGE3X full vessel plasma simulations for computation of ITER first-wall fluxes

ITER Pre-Fusion Power Operation 1 (PFPO-1) phase low-power plasmas are simulated with the SOLEDGE3X-EIRENE code, a multi-fluid edge plasma solver that can describe plasma conditions up to the machine's first wall, including a kinetic description of neutrals. Here, SOLEDGE3X is used in 2D mean-field mode. A throughput scan is performed, reproducing a similar scan from the ITER SOLPS simulations database. The physics assumptions for these simulations are presented, in particular the plasma-neutral interaction model where molecule charge-exchange and ion-molecule elastic collisions have newly been added. Challenges encountered in such up-to-the-wall simulations are discussed, along with remaining open questions. Results are presented with two foci: on targets, and on the rest of the first wall. On targets, conditions transition from attached to partially detached as expected, and toroidally symmetric heat fluxes (i.e. without 3D effects) remain below 5 MW/m${}^2$, within the divertor design limits. An increase in the parallel heat flux decay length ${\lambda }_q$ with throughput is also observed. On the rest of the first wall, increasing puff rate does not only spread power deposited on the target but also increases heat load on the first wall. These fluxes remain however small (<100 kW/m${}^2$). (© 2022 Wiley‐VCH GmbH)