Published August 1, 2019 | Version v1
Journal article

Optimizing multi-modal, non-axisymmetric plasma response metrics with additional coil rows on DIII-D

  • 1. General Atomics, PO Box 85608, San Diego, CA 92186-5608 (United States)
  • 2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ 08543 (United States)

Description

The expansion of the DIII-D tokamak operational space via the addition of new non-axisymmetric coil rows is investigated using the linear MHD plasma response code MARS-F. The plasma response to magnetic perturbations imposed by five distinct low- and high-field side coil geometries is modeled for toroidal mode numbers up to n  =  6. A set of linear (: resonant, kink mode amplitude) and quadratic (: core and edge integrated NTV torque) plasma metrics are defined and compared directly for the various coil geometries. Coil size is also scanned as a secondary optimization variable. An in-vessel coil located at the low-field side midplane is identified as the most efficient plasma response actuator across all metrics and toroidal mode numbers. The multi-row combination of this new midplane (M) coil with the existing DIII-D non-axisymmetric coil set is considered in numerical optimization studies to quantify the impact of this new coil on modeled plasma response metrics. The addition of the M coil is shown to significantly increase the actuator efficiency in maximizing individual plasma response metrics as well as maximizing multi-modal ratios of response metrics, e.g. maximizing resonant modes or edge NTV torque while minimizing kink modes or core NTV torque. The ex-vessel midplane (C) coil is also observed to have an outsize effect on multi-modal optimization due to its uniquely narrow poloidal spectra, and the expansion of optimization space due to the combined use of the two existing in-vessel coil rows with both the M and C coils is notably larger than either coil's individual contribution even though both share similar poloidal locations. This four-row system is expected to greatly extend abilities to understand and optimize the control of transients and rotation on the DIII-D tokamak. (paper)

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ab265e

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Nuclear Fusion
Journal Volume
59
Journal Issue
8
Journal Page Range
[16 p.]
ISSN
0029-5515
CODEN
NUFUAU

INIS

Country of Publication
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
51093800
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
DOUBLET-3 DEVICE; METRICS; OPTIMIZATION; PERTURBATION THEORY; PLASMA SIMULATION; ROTATING PLASMA; TORQUE
Descriptors DEC
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES; PLASMA; SIMULATION; THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES; TOKAMAK DEVICES