DIII-D Research to Prepare for Steady State Advanced Tokamak Power Plants

R. J. Buttery, B. Covele, J. Ferron, A. Garofalo, C. T. Holcomb, T. Leonard, J. M. Park, T. Petrie, C. Petty, G. Staebler, E. J. Strait, M. Van Zeeland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

We review progress made on the advanced tokamak path to fusion energy by the DIII-D National Fusion Facility (Luxon et al. in Nucl Fusion 42:614, 2002). The advanced tokamak represents a highly attractive approach for a future steady state fusion power plant. In this concept, there is a natural alignment between high pressure operation, favorable stability and transport properties, and a highly self-driven (‘bootstrap’) plasma current to sustain operation efficiently and without disruptions. Research on DIII-D has identified several promising plasma configurations for fully non-inductive operation with potential applications to a range of future devices, from ITER to nuclear science facilities, to compact or large scale fusion power plants. Significant progress has been made toward realizing these scenarios, with the demonstration of high β access, off-axis current drive techniques, model based profile control, and stability and ELM control in reactor relevant physics regimes. Radiative techniques have also been pioneered to develop improved compatibility with divertor requirements, and simultaneous access to high performance pedestals. Research has also developed major advances in physics understanding, validating concepts of kinetic damping of ideal MHD instabilities that enable high β operation, identifying how current profile and β influence plasma turbulence in order to validate and improve turbulent transport models, and understanding the physics of energetic particle redistribution due to Alfvénic and other instabilities. These advances have been partnered with development of a rigorous integrated modeling framework used to interpret and validate individual physics models of the various aspects of plasma behavior, and to guide development of improved regimes and upgrades. These tools are also being used to develop and validate concepts for future reactors directly. Having established these foundations, DIII-D is now undergoing a substantial upgrade to raise power, current drive, electron heating and 3-D field capabilities in order to validate this physics and test conceptual solutions in reactor-relevant physics regimes, with a goal to resolve the key scientific and technology questions to enable a decision on a future steady state fusion power plant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)72-111
Number of pages40
JournalJournal of Fusion Energy
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2019

Funding

Acknowledgements This authors would like to pay tribute to the entire DIII-D team whose research led to the body of knowledge described in this paper. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, using the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, a DOE This authors would like to pay tribute to the entire DIII-D team whose research led to the body of knowledge described in this paper. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, using the DIII-D National Fusion Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility, under Awards DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-AC05-00OR22725 and DE-AC52-07NA27344. DIII-D data shown in this paper can be obtained in digital format by following the links at: https://fusion.gat.com/global/D3D_DMP. This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

FundersFunder number
DOE Office of Science user facilityDE-AC05-00OR22725, DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-AC52-07NA27344
United States Government
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Science
Fusion Energy Sciences

    Keywords

    • Advanced tokamak
    • DIII-D
    • Energy
    • Fusion
    • Steady state

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