Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Divertor

Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Divertor PDF Author:
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Languages : en
Pages : 5

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Book Description
Indications that flows in the divertor can exhibit complex behavior have been obtained from 2-D modeling but so far remain mostly unconfirmed by experiment. An important feature of flow physics is that of flow reversal. Flow reversal has been predicted analytically and it is expected when the ionization source arising from neutral or impurity ionization in the divertor region is large, creating a high pressure zone. Plasma flows arise to equilibrate the pressure. A radiative divertor regime has been proposed in order to reduce the heat and particle fluxes to the divertor target plates. In this regime, the energy and momentum of the plasma are dissipated into neutral gas introduced in the divertor region, cooling the plasma by collisional, radiative and other atomic processes so that the plasma becomes detached from the target plates. These regimes have been the subject of extensive studies in DIII-D to evaluate their energy and particle transport properties, but only recently it has been proposed that the energy transport over large regions of the divertor must be dominated by convection instead of conduction. It is therefore important to understand the role of the plasma conditions and geometry on determining the region of convection-dominated plasma in order to properly control the heat and particle fluxes to the target plates and hence, divertor performance. The authors have observed complex structures in the deuterium ion flows in the DIII-D divertor. Features observed include reverse flow, convective flow over a large volume of the divertor and stagnant flow. They have measured large gradients in the plasma potential across the separatrix in the divertor and determined that these gradients induce poloidal flows that can potentially affect the particle balance in the divertor.

Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Divertor

Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Divertor PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 5

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Book Description
Indications that flows in the divertor can exhibit complex behavior have been obtained from 2-D modeling but so far remain mostly unconfirmed by experiment. An important feature of flow physics is that of flow reversal. Flow reversal has been predicted analytically and it is expected when the ionization source arising from neutral or impurity ionization in the divertor region is large, creating a high pressure zone. Plasma flows arise to equilibrate the pressure. A radiative divertor regime has been proposed in order to reduce the heat and particle fluxes to the divertor target plates. In this regime, the energy and momentum of the plasma are dissipated into neutral gas introduced in the divertor region, cooling the plasma by collisional, radiative and other atomic processes so that the plasma becomes detached from the target plates. These regimes have been the subject of extensive studies in DIII-D to evaluate their energy and particle transport properties, but only recently it has been proposed that the energy transport over large regions of the divertor must be dominated by convection instead of conduction. It is therefore important to understand the role of the plasma conditions and geometry on determining the region of convection-dominated plasma in order to properly control the heat and particle fluxes to the target plates and hence, divertor performance. The authors have observed complex structures in the deuterium ion flows in the DIII-D divertor. Features observed include reverse flow, convective flow over a large volume of the divertor and stagnant flow. They have measured large gradients in the plasma potential across the separatrix in the divertor and determined that these gradients induce poloidal flows that can potentially affect the particle balance in the divertor.

Radiative Divertor Plasmas with Convection in DIII-D.

Radiative Divertor Plasmas with Convection in DIII-D. PDF Author:
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Languages : en
Pages : 34

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The radiation of divertor heat flux on DIII-D is shown to greatly exceed the limits imposed by assumptions of energy transport dominated by electron thermal conduction parallel to the magnetic field. Approximately 90% of the power flowing into the divertor is dissipated through low Z radiation and plasma recombination. The dissipation is made possible by an extended region of low electron temperature in the divertor. A one-dimensional analysis of the parallel heat flux finds that the electron temperature profile is incompatible with conduction dominated parallel transport. Plasma flow at up to the ion acoustic speed, produced by upstream ionization, can account for the parallel heat flux. Modeling with the two-dimensional fluid code UEDGE has reproduced many of the observed experimental features.

Divertor Plasma Studies on DIII-D

Divertor Plasma Studies on DIII-D PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 33

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In a magnetically diverted tokamak, the scrape-off layer (SOL) and divertor plasma provides separation between the first wall and the core plasma, intercepting impurities generated at the wall before they reach the core plasma. The divertor plasma can also serve to spread the heat and particle flux over a large area of divertor structure wall using impurity radiation and neutral charge exchange, thus reducing peak heat and particle fluxes at the divertor strike plate. Such a reduction will be required in the next generation of tokamaks, for without it, the divertor engineering requirements are very demanding. To successfully demonstrate a radiative divertor, a highly radiative condition with significant volume recombination must be achieved in the divertor, while maintaining a low impurity content in the core plasma. Divertor plasma properties are determined by a complex interaction of classical parallel transport, anomalous perpendicular transport, impurity transport and radiation, and plasma wall interaction. In this paper the authors describe a set of experiments on DIII-D designed to provide detailed two dimensional documentation of the divertor and SOL plasma. Measurements have been made in operating modes where the plasma is attached to the divertor strike plate and in highly radiating cases where the plasma is detached from the divertor strike plate. They also discuss the results of experiments designed to influence the distribution of impurities in the plasma using enhanced SOL plasma flow. Extensive modeling efforts will be described which are successfully reproducing attached plasma conditions and are helping to elucidate the important plasma and atomic physics involved in the detachment process.

Compatibility of the Radiating Divertor with High Performance Plasmas in DIII-D.

Compatibility of the Radiating Divertor with High Performance Plasmas in DIII-D. PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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A radiating divertor approach was successfully applied to high performance 'hybrid' plasmas [M.R. Wade, et al., Proc. 20th IAEA Fusion Energy Conf., Vilamoura, (2004)]. Our technique included: (1) injecting argon near the outer divertor target, (2) enhancing the plasma flow into the inner and outer divertors by a combination of particle pumping and deuterium gas puffing upstream of the divertor targets, and (3) isolating the inner divertor from the outer by a structure in the private flux region. Good hybrid conditions were maintained, as the peak heat flux at the outer divertor target was reduced by a factor of 2.5; the peak heat flux at the inner target decreased by 20%. This difference was caused by a higher concentration of argon at the outer target than at the inner target. Argon accumulation in the main plasma was modest (n{sub AR}/n{sub e} (less-than or equal to)0.004 on axis), although the argon profile was more peaked than the electron profile.

Modeling The Effect of Drifts on the Edge, Scrape-Off Layer, and Divertor Plasma in DIII-D.

Modeling The Effect of Drifts on the Edge, Scrape-Off Layer, and Divertor Plasma in DIII-D. PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Simulations of plasmas with a DIII-D shape indicate plasma drifts are important at power levels near the L- to H-mode plasma transition. In addition to enhancing plasma flows in the divertor region, drifts are found to play a key role in establishing highly sheared radial electric fields in the edge of the confined plasma, for the physics of the high confinement operating mode (H-mode). Measurements of the plasma structure in the vicinity of the X-point of DIII-D indicate the importance of drifts on plasma flow between the scrape-off layer (SOL) and closed field lines. The large electric fields provide large flows around the X-point, and these are conjectured to play a role in the transition from L- to H-mode confinement. These results indicate the relevance of modeling the edge and SOL plasmas of present tokamak devices using models which include E x B, (nabla)B, and pressure gradient drifts. The results of simulation of specific DIII-D discharges is reported in this paper. They start with discussion of the simulation of an Ohmic discharge in Section 2, including a study of the effect of varying several operational parameters. Simulation of a higher triangularity L-mode discharge is discussed in Section, and a summary is given in Section 4.

Valojuova

Valojuova PDF Author:
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ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Analysis of Particle Flow in the DIII-D SOL and Divertor

Analysis of Particle Flow in the DIII-D SOL and Divertor PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
The scrape-off layer (SOL) and divertor plasma in the DEEI-D tokamak has been modeled using the 2-D fluid code UEDGE. The resulting simulated plasmas are compared in detail with the numerous diagnostics available on the device. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental measurements and the simulations when relatively small values of the assumed anomalous perpendicular transport coefficients are used. We use a purely diffusive model for perpendicular transport, with transport coefficients which are constant in space. The value of each of these transport coefficients is varied in the simulation to match the measured upstream density and temperature profiles. The resulting plasma parameters are then compared with all other diagnostics which measure parameters at various poloidal locations in the SOL.

Measurements of Flows in the DIII-D Divertor by Mach Probes

Measurements of Flows in the DIII-D Divertor by Mach Probes PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
First measurements of Mach number of background plasma in the DIII-D divertor are presented in conjunction with temperature T{sub e} and density n{sub e} using a fast scanning probe array. To validate the probe measurements, the authors compared the T{sub e}, n{sub e} and J{sub sat} data to Thomson scattering data and find good overall agreement in attached discharges and some discrepancy for T{sub e} and n{sub e} in detached discharges. The discrepancy is mostly due to the effect of large fluctuations present during detached plasmas on the probe characteristic; the particle flux is accurately measured in every case. A composite 2-D map of measured flows is presented for an ELMing H-mode discharge and they focus on some of the details. They have also documented the temperature, density and Mach number in the private flux region of the divertor and the vicinity of the X-point, which are important transition regions that have been little studied or modeled. Background parallel plasma flows and electric fields in the divertor region show a complex structure.

Compatibility of the Radiating Divertor with High Performance Plasmas in DIII-D.

Compatibility of the Radiating Divertor with High Performance Plasmas in DIII-D. PDF Author: S. Allen
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
Excessive thermal power loading on the divertor structures presents a design difficulty for future-generation, high powered tokamaks. This difficulty may be mitigated by ''seeding'' the divertor with impurities which radiate a significant fraction of the power upstream of the divertor targets. For this ''radiating divertor'' concept to be practical, however, the confinement and stability of the plasma cannot be compromised by excessive leakage of the seeded impurities into the core plasma. One proposed way of reducing impurity influx is to enhance the directed scrape-off layer (SOL) flow of deuterium ions toward the divertor [1-5]. We report here on the successful application of the radiating divertor scenario to high performance plasma operation in a DIII-D ''hybrid'' H-mode regime. The ''hybrid'' regime [6,7] has many features in common with conventional ELMing H-mode regimes, such as high confinement, e.g., H{sub ITER89P}> 2, where H{sub ITER89P} is the energy confinement normalized to the 1989 ITER L-mode scaling [8]. The main difference is the absence of sawtooth activity in the hybrid. Argon was selected as the seeded impurity for this experiment because argon radiates effectively at both the divertor and pedestal temperatures found in DIII-D hybrid H-mode operation and has a relatively short ionization mean free path. Carbon is also present as the dominant intrinsic impurity in DIII-D discharges. The geometry of this experiment is shown in Fig. 1. A double-null cross-sectional shape was biased upward (dRsep = +1.0 cm). To increase the deuterium ion flow toward the divertor at the top of the vessel, deuterium gas was introduced near the bottom. Argon was injected directly into the private flux region (PFR) of the upper divertor. In-vessel pumping of deuterium and argon was done by cryopumps located in the two upper divertor plenums, shown in cross-hatching [9]. The upper divertor, which we hereafter will simply refer to as the ''divertor'', is the region lying above the dashed line in Fig. 1, and is relatively ''closed''.

Simulation of Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Tokamak

Simulation of Plasma Flow in the DIII-D Tokamak PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 7

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Book Description
The importance of the parallel flow of primary and impurity ions in the Scrape-Off layer (SOL) of divertor tokamaks has been recognized recently. Impurity accumulation on the closed flux surfaces is determined in part by their parallel flow in the SOL. In turn, the parallel transport of the impurity ions is determined in part by drag from the primary ion flow. Measurement of flow in the DIII-D tokamak has begun recently. We describe initial results of modeling plasma ion flow using the 2-D code UEDGE in this paper. We assume the impurity (carbon) arises from chemical and physical sputtering from the walls surrounding the DIII-D plasma. We include six charge states of carbon in our simulations. We make detailed compaison with a multitude of SOL plasma diagnostics, including the flow measurement, to verify the UEDGE physics model. We begin the paper with a brief description of the plasma and neutral models in the UEDGE code in Section 2. We then present initial results of flow simulations and compare them with experimental measurement in Section 3. We conclude with a discussion of the dominant physics processes identified in the modeling in Section 4.