2024 – Magnetic control emulation development, density limit avoidance development, and pellet control development

Magnetic control emulation development, density limit avoidance development, and pellet control development

2024 Research Campaign, Plasma Control

Purpose of Experiment

This experiment performs important control development and testing in support of the following ‘main’ experiments: A) 2024-12-01, aimed at allowing DIII-D to emulate the axisymetric magnetic control characteristics of ITER and thus expand the capability and relevance of DIII-D to ITER control research; and B) 2024-36-03, aimed at evaluating DIII-D’s potential at operating above the Greenwald limit by combining newly developed density limit metric and the proximity controller algorithm.

Experimental Approach

This experiment is a control support experiment and is focused on testing and commissioning of control and PCS changes made to facilitate the main experiments to be conducted later. The PCS changes are review and exercised with active plasma to verify the proper function of the control changes, as well as identify remaining control issues that needs to be resolved before the main experiment. For the first portion will focus on the functionality of the extensive additions to the ITER emulation algorithm, as well as the challenge of control algorithm transitions. The second portion will start by established a baseline density with traditional control, then turning on the control improvements and performing a density scan until the plasma can no longer be controlled.