3D modeling of n = 1 RMP driven heat fluxes on the SPARC tokamak PFCs using HEAT

  • M. Scotto d’Abusco
  • , A. Wingen
  • , T. Looby
  • , A. Kleiner
  • , D. Corona
  • , M. Churcill
  • , N. Ferraro
  • , S. Munaretto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

3D heat flux calculations at the lower outer divertor plate of SPARC using the HEAT code show that 3D fields generated from error field correction coils can lead to enhanced peak heat fluxes up to 15 times larger compared to the axisymmetric case. Previously employed to simulate axisymmetric heat flux on 3D plasma facing components, the HEAT code can now predict 3D heat flux generated by non-axisymmetric plasmas. This is achieved via a new HEAT module which leverages the 3D field line tracing capabilities of MAFOT starting from an M3D-C1 (MHD resistive code) perturbed equilibria. The resulting heat flux is assigned using the magnetic footprint and the heat flux layer model, an extension of the 2D heat flux model also known as the Eich, to 3D non-axisymmetric plasmas. For SPARC, the new capabilities of HEAT are used to calculate the 3D heat loads resulting from n = 1 perturbation fields (with n indicating the toroidal periodicity) applied through a toroidal array of six picture frame coils with different amplitude. The comparison with the unperturbed case shows significant changes in shape and intensity of the heat flux profile. The results show that the application of n = 1 3D field leads to a localized enhancement of the heat flux peak, influenced by the wetted area impacted by the magnetic footprint, and the appearance of a secondary heat flux peak, whose intensity depends on amplitude of the applied 3D field and toroidal location.

Original languageEnglish
Article number096030
JournalNuclear Fusion
Volume65
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2025

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, under Awards DE-AC02-09CH11466 and DE-AC05-00OR22725. This work is supported in part by Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Keywords

  • 3D heat flux
  • HEAT
  • SPARC

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