ICRH coupling optimization and impurity behavior in EAST and WEST

EAST & WEST Teams

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study compares experimental observations on the two challenges of Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH), namely the coupling of waves to the plasma and the enhanced impurity sputtering in EAST and WEST medium size tokamaks. In WEST, Lower Hybrid (LH) power helps improving ICRH coupling. In both machines experiments reveal that fueling from the midplane not only helps to couple waves from nearby antennas like in other devices, but also has an impact on the scrape-off layer (SOL) density in regions that are not magnetically connected to the valves. Localized midplane nozzle valves allow similar (in WEST) or better (in EAST) coupling compared to poloidally distributed valves. Core density control requirements for long-pulse operation, in particular in L-mode regime, however limit the amount of gas that can be injected. During ICRH impurities can contaminate the plasma up to a level detrimental for the operation, e.g. up to 100% of ICRH power can be radiated on WEST in certain high power conditions. In WEST, tungsten (W) production measured by visible spectroscopy increases on all the observed objects during ICRH compared to a reference phase without ICRH. On some components (antenna side limiters, baffle, divertor) the rise is larger than with a similar LH power. The relative contribution of each object and physical process (RF-sheaths, fast ion ripple losses) to core contamination yet remains poorly known. Comparing antenna limiters with W-coating vs low-Z materials would help quantifying the role of these components. In EAST, the core W content, measured by EUV spectroscopy in presence of divertor sources only, is correlated with the total injected power, either from ICRH or LH. Since 2018 the LH guard limiter tiles were W-coated. Their contribution to the core W content appears more important than divertor sources when two-strap ICRH antennas magnetically connected to W components at the midplane is powered, compromising high performance operations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication23rd Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas
EditorsPaul T. Bonoli, Robert I. Pinsker, Xiaojie Wang
PublisherAmerican Institute of Physics Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9780735420137
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 16 2020
Externally publishedYes
Event23rd Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas - Hefei, China
Duration: May 14 2019May 17 2019

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume2254
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference23rd Topical Conference on Radiofrequency Power in Plasmas
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHefei
Period05/14/1905/17/19

Funding

This work was supported partly by National key research and development program (grant nos 2016YFA0400600 and 2016YFA0400601). This work was supported partly by National Magnetic confinement Fusion Science Program (grant nos 2015GB101001). This work was also supported partly by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant nos 11675213, 11375235. This work has been carried out within the framework of the the French Federation for Magnetic Fusion Studies (FR-FCM) and EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training program 2014-2018 and 2019-2020 under grant agreement No 633053. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

FundersFunder number
Eurofusion consortium
Euratom research and training program 2014-2018
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme633053
National Natural Science Foundation of China11675213, 11375235
National Key Research and Development Program of China2016YFA0400601, 2016YFA0400600
National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Program of China2015GB101001

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'ICRH coupling optimization and impurity behavior in EAST and WEST'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this