S. Huygen

Physics and engineering results obtained with the ion cyclotron range of frequencies ITER-like antenna on JET

This paper summarizes the operational experience of the ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) ITER-like antenna on JET aiming at substantially increasing the power density in the range of the requirements for ITER combined with load resiliency. An in-depth description of its commissioning, operational aspects and achieved performances is presented.

Implementation of load resilient ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) systems to couple high levels of ICRF power to ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET

The paper summarizes the continuous developments made to the ion cyclotron resonant frequency (ICRF) system at JET in order to improve the reliability of the power coupled to plasma. It details the changes and improvements made to the system so that more power is coupled during ELMy plasmas as well as increasing the power density to demonstrate reliable operation in the range of the requirements for ITER. Results obtained using the conventional matching (stubs and trombones) system, 3 dB couplers and the conjugate-T scheme with variable matching elements outside the wave launching structure (external conjugate-T) and inside the wave launching structure (ITER-like antenna) are described. The presence of the three different approaches to load resilient ICRF systems at JET creates a unique opportunity to compare these methods under very similar plasma conditions and to assess the results of ICRF power delivery to ELMy plasmas, an important issue for ITER. The impact of the availability of increased levels of reliable ICRF power on plasma physics studies in JET is illustrated.

Overview on Experiments On ITER‐like Antenna On JET And ICRF Antenna Design For ITER

Following an overview of the ITER Ion Cyclotron Resonance Frequency (ICRF) system, the JET ITER‐like antenna (ILA) will be described. The ILA was designed to test the following ITER issues: (a) reliable operation at power densities of order 8 MW/m2 at voltages up to 45 kV using a close‐packed array of straps; (b) powering through ELMs using an internal (in‐vacuum) conjugate‐T junction; (c) protection from arcing in a conjugate‐T configuration, using both existing and novel systems; and (d) resilience to disruption forces. ITER‐relevant results have been achieved: operation at high coupled power density; control of the antenna matching elements in the presence of high inter‐strap coupling, use of four conjugate‐T systems (as would be used in ITER, should a conjugate‐T approach be used); operation with RF voltages on the antenna structures up to 42 kV; achievement of ELM tolerance with a conjugate‐T configuration by operating at 3Ω real impedance at the conjugate‐T point; and validation of arc detection sys...

Optimizing ion-cyclotron resonance frequency heating for ITER: dedicated JET experiments

In the past years, one of the focal points of the JET experimental programme was on ion-cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) studies in view of the design and exploitation of the ICRH system being developed for ITER. In this brief review, some of the main achievements obtained in JET in this field during the last 5 years will be summarized. The results reported here include important aspects of a more engineering nature, such as (i) the appropriate design of the RF feeding circuits for optimal load resilient operation and (ii) the test of a compact high-power density antenna array, as well as RF physics oriented studies aiming at refining the numerical models used for predicting the performance of the ICRH system in ITER. The latter include (i) experiments designed for improving the modelling of the antenna coupling resistance under various plasma conditions and (ii) the assessment of the heating performance of ICRH scenarios to be used in the non-active operation phase of ITER.

Proposal of an Arc Detection Technique Based on RF Measurements for the ITER ICRF Antenna

RF arc detection is a key operational and safety issue for the ICRF system on ITER. Indeed the high voltages inside the antenna put it at risk of arcing, which could cause substantial damage. This paper describes the various possibilities explored by circuit simulation and the strategy now considered to protect the ITER ICRF antenna from RF arcs.

RF Measurements and Modeling from the JET‐ITER Like Antenna Testing

The RF characteristics of the JET‐ITER Like (JET‐IL) antenna relevant for operation on plasma have been assessed using full wave three Dimensional (3D) electromagnetic CST® Microwave Studio (MWS) simulations, measurements of the full 8‐port antenna strap array S/Z‐matrix, and RF circuit modeling. These efforts are made in parallel with the high voltage testing of the antenna inside a vacuum tank and the hardware implementation of a RF (Radio Frequency) matching feedback control system prior to installation of the antenna on the JET tokamak.

Present Status of the ITER-like ICRF Antenna on JET

The commissioning of the ITER‐Like ICRF Antenna (ILA) [1] on JET plasmas from May 2008 to April 2009 in various conditions (33, 42 and 47 MHz, L‐ and H‐mode, antenna strap‐plasma separatrix distances of ∼9 to 17 cm) has provided relevant information for future antenna design and operation. The maximum power density achieved was 6.2 MW/m2 in L‐mode with strap to plasma separatrix distance of ∼9–10 cm at 42 MHz on the lower half of the ILA extrapolating to 8 MW/m2 if the full generator power had been available. Efficient (trip‐free operation) ELM tolerance was obtained both at 33 and 42 MHz on a large range of ELMs with strap voltages up to 42 kV and a maximum power density of 4.1 MW/m2. The paper reviews these achievements as well as remaining issues.

Operational Experience with the Scattering Matrix Arc Detection System on the JET ITER‐Like Antenna

The Scattering Matrix Arc Detection System (SMAD) has been fully deployed on all 4 sets of Resonant Double Loop (RDL), Vacuum Transmission Line (VTL) and Antenna Pressurised Transmission Lines (APTL) of the JET ICRF ITER‐Like Antenna (ILA) and this has been indispensable for operating at low (real) T‐point impedance values to investigate ELM tolerance. This paper describes the necessity of the SMAD vs VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) protection system, SMAD commissioning, problems and a number of typical events detected by the SMAD system during operation on plasma.

Simulating the JET ITER-like Antenna circuit

A set of simulation/interpretation tools based on transmission line theory and on the RF model developed by M. Vrancken [2] has been developed to study the ITER‐like Antenna (ILA) at JET. For given tuning element settings, the unique solution of the equations governing the ILA circuit requires solving a system of coupled linear equations relating the voltages and currents at the antenna straps and other key locations. This computation allows cross‐checking predicted values against measured experimental ones. Further more, a minimization procedure allows improving the correspondence with the quantities measured in the circuit during shots, thus coping with unavoidable errors arising from uncertainties in the measurements or from inaccuracies in the adopted RF model. Typical applications are e.g. fine‐tuning of the second‐stage of the ILA circuit for increased ELM‐resilience, cross‐checking the calibration of the measurements throughout the circuit and predicting the antenna performance and matching conditi...

Performance assessment of the ITER ICRF antenna

ITERs Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) system [1] comprises two antenna launchers designed by CYCLE (a consortium of European associations listed in the author affiliations above) on behalf F4E for the ITER Organisation (IO), each inserted as a Port Plug (PP) into one of ITERs Vacuum Vessel (VV) ports. Each launcher is an array of 4 toroidal by 6 poloidal RF current straps specified to couple up to 20 MW in total to the plasma in the frequency range of 40 to 55 MHz but limited to a maximum system voltage of 45 kV and limits on RF electric fields depending on their location and direction with respect to respectively the torus vacuum and the toroidal magnetic field. A crucial aspect of coupling ICRF power to plasmas is the knowledge of the plasma density profiles in the Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) and the location of the RF current straps with respect to the SOL. The launcher layout and details were optimized and its performance estimated for a worst case SOL provided by the IO. The paper summarizes t...