Modélisation numérique du transport et de la turbulence dans le plasma de bord des tokamaks (thèse: 2014 - 2017)
Activités
Modélisation
Turbulence
Physique du transport turbulent; Transport de chaleur dans les plasmas de bord;
Tokamaks
Publications scientifiques au M2P2
2021
Raffaele Tatali, Eric Serre, Patrick Tamain, Davide Galassi, Philippe Ghendrih, et al.. Impact of collisionality on turbulence in the edge of tokamak plasma using 3D global simulations. Nuclear Fusion, 2021, ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/abe98b⟩. ⟨hal-03182318⟩ Plus de détails...
Collisionality is one of the key parameters in determining turbulent transport in the plasma edge, regulating phenomena such as "shoulder formation", separation of scale lengths in the scrape-off layer, turbulence damping and zonal flow dynamics. Understanding its role is therefore of primary importance for future reactors like ITER. Obtaining reliable predictions and a better characterization of plasma flow properties when varying collisionality remains, however, a critical challenge for the simulations. This paper focuses on the impact of varying collisionality in a nonisothermal three-dimensional fluid model of the plasma edge. A high field side limited configuration encompassing open and closed magnetic field lines with parameters typical of a medium-sized tokamak is considered. The present model can consistently account for the variations of collisionality and its impact on both the parallel resistivity η and the ion and electron parallel thermal conductivities χ e,i. Details on mean flow and turbulence properties are given. Changing collisionality leads to significant changes in the flow properties both on the mean and fluctuating quantities. In particular, lowering collisionality decreases the size of coherent structures, the fluctuation levels of turbulence, and steepens the density and temperature equilibrium profiles around the separatrix leading to a global reduction of the turbulent transport. The scrape-off layer (SOL) width is observed to increase with collisionality, eventually resulting in the disappearance of the scale lengths separation between near and far SOL, consistently with previous experimental observations. At low collisionality, where the presence of narrow feature is well-established, a contribution of heat conduction increases up to compete with heat convection.
Raffaele Tatali, Eric Serre, Patrick Tamain, Davide Galassi, Philippe Ghendrih, et al.. Impact of collisionality on turbulence in the edge of tokamak plasma using 3D global simulations. Nuclear Fusion, 2021, ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/abe98b⟩. ⟨hal-03182318⟩
T. Cartier-Michaud, D. Galassi, Ph Ghendrih, P. Tamain, F. Schwander, et al.. A posteriori error estimate in fluid simulations of turbulent edge plasmas for magnetic fusion in tokamak using the data mining iPoPe method. Physics of Plasmas, 2020. ⟨hal-02613800⟩ Plus de détails...
Progressing towards more reliable numerical solutions in the simulation of plasma for magnetic confinement fusion has become a critical issue for the success of the ITER operation. This requires developing rigorous and efficient methods of verification of the numerical simulations in any relevant flow regimes of the operation. The paper introduces a new formulation of the PoPe 1 method, namely the independent Projection on Proper elements method (iPoPe) to quantify the numerical error by performing a data-driven identification of the mathematical model from the simulation outputs. Based on a statistical postprocessing of the outputs database, the method provides a measure of the error by estimating the distance between the (numerical) effective and (analytical) theoretical weights of each operator implemented in the mathematical model. The efficiency of the present method is illustrated on turbulent edge plasma simulations based on a drift-reduced Braginskii fluid model in realistic magnetic geometries. Results show the effective order of the numerical method in these multiscale flow regimes as well as the values of the plasma parameters which can be safely simulated with respect to a given discretization. In this sense, the method goes one step further than the Method of Manufactured Solution (MMS 2-4), recently introduced in fusion, and provides an efficient verification procedure of the numerical simulations in any regimes, including turbulent ones that could be generalized to other scientific domains.
T. Cartier-Michaud, D. Galassi, Ph Ghendrih, P. Tamain, F. Schwander, et al.. A posteriori error estimate in fluid simulations of turbulent edge plasmas for magnetic fusion in tokamak using the data mining iPoPe method. Physics of Plasmas, 2020. ⟨hal-02613800⟩
S. Kahn, C. Reux, J.-F Artaud, G Aiello, J.-B Blanchard, et al.. Sensitivity analysis of fusion power plant designs using the SYCOMORE system code. Nuclear Fusion, 2019, 60 (1), pp.016015. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/ab4879⟩. ⟨cea-02426430⟩ Plus de détails...
The next step after ITER is the demonstration of stable electricity production with a fusion reactor. Key design performances will have to be met by the corresponding power plant demonstrator (DEMO), fulfilling a large number of constraints. System codes such as SYCOMORE, by simulating all the fusion power plant subsystems , address those questions. To be able to perform design optimizations, simplified models relying on physical and technological assumptions have to be used, resulting in a large number of input parameters. As these parameters are not always exactly known, the impact of their associated uncertainties on final design performances has to be evaluated. Sensitivity methods, by measuring the relative influence of inputs on the figures of merit of the design, allow to select the dominant parameters. This information helps the search for optimal working points, guides the priority for technical improvements and finally allows selecting meaningful inputs for uncertainty propagation. A full set of sensitivity methods and their application on a ITER and a DEMO design will be presented, discussing both the statistical methods behaviors and the physical results. Plasma shape parameters (minor radius and plasma elongations) share half of the net electricity power sensitivity for the DEMO 2015 design while the toroidal magnetic field and the 95 % safety factor are responsible for 23% and 17% of the electric power sensitivity, respectively. The plasma minor radius is responsible for 45% of the pulse duration sensitivity for the DEMO 2015 design, while plasma physics parameters drive ∼ 37% of the pulse duration sensitivity.
S. Kahn, C. Reux, J.-F Artaud, G Aiello, J.-B Blanchard, et al.. Sensitivity analysis of fusion power plant designs using the SYCOMORE system code. Nuclear Fusion, 2019, 60 (1), pp.016015. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/ab4879⟩. ⟨cea-02426430⟩
F. Nespoli, P. Tamain, N. Fedorczak, G. Ciraolo, D. Galassi, et al.. 3D structure and dynamics of filaments in turbulence simulations of WEST diverted plasmas. Nuclear Fusion, 2019. ⟨hal-02364554⟩ Plus de détails...
We study the effect of a diverted magnetic geometry on edge plasma turbulence, focusing on the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of filaments, also called blobs, in simulations of the WEST tokamak, featuring a primary and secondary X-point. For this purpose, in addition to classical analysis techniques, we apply here a novel fully 3D Blob Recognition And Tracking (BRAT) algorithm, allowing for the first time to resolve the three-dimensional structure and dynamics of the blobs in a turbulent 3D plasma featuring a realistic magnetic geometry. The results are tested against existing theoretical scalings of blob velocity [Myra et al, Physics of Plasmas 2006]. The complementary analysis of the 3D structure of the filaments shows how they disconnect from the divertor plate in the vicinity of the X-points, leading to a transition from a sheath-connected regime to the ideal-interchange one. Furthermore, the numerical results show non-negligible effects of the turbulent background plasma: approximately half of the detected filaments are involved in mutual interactions, eventually resulting in negative radial velocities, and a fraction of the filaments is generated by turbulence directly below the X-point.
F. Nespoli, P. Tamain, N. Fedorczak, G. Ciraolo, D. Galassi, et al.. 3D structure and dynamics of filaments in turbulence simulations of WEST diverted plasmas. Nuclear Fusion, 2019. ⟨hal-02364554⟩
P. Ström, P. Petersson, M. Rubel, E. Fortuna-Zaleśna, A. Widdowson, et al.. Analysis of deposited layers with deuterium and impurity elements on samples from the divertor of JET with ITER-like wall. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2019, 516, pp.202-213. ⟨10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.11.027⟩. ⟨hal-02177126⟩ Plus de détails...
Inconel-600 blocks and stainless steel covers for quartz microbalance crystals from remote corners in the JET-ILW divertor were studied with time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis and nuclear reaction analysis to obtain information about the areal densities and depth profiles of elements present in deposited material layers. Surface morphology and the composition of dust particles were examined with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The analysed components were present in JET during three ITER-like wall campaigns between 2010 and 2017. Deposited layers had a stratified structure, primarily made up of beryllium, carbon and oxygen with varying atomic fractions of deuterium, up to more than 20%. The range of carbon transport from the ribs of the divertor carrier was limited to a few centimeters, and carbon/deuterium co-deposition was indicated on the Inconel blocks. High atomic fractions of deuterium were also found in almost carbon-free layers on the quartz microbalance covers. Layer thicknesses up to more than 1 mu m were indicated, but typical values were on the order of a few hundred nm. Chromium, iron and nickel fractions were less than or around 1% at layer surfaces while increasing close to the layer-substrate interface. The tungsten fraction depended on the proximity of the plasma strike point to the divertor corners. Particles of tungsten, molybdenum and copper with sizes less than or around 1 mu m were found. Nitrogen, argon and neon were present after plasma edge cooling and disruption mitigation. Oxygen-18 was found on component surfaces after injection, indicating in-vessel oxidation. Compensation of elastic recoil detection data for detection efficiency and ion-induced release of deuterium during the measurement gave quantitative agreement with nuclear reaction analysis, which strengthens the validity of the results.
P. Ström, P. Petersson, M. Rubel, E. Fortuna-Zaleśna, A. Widdowson, et al.. Analysis of deposited layers with deuterium and impurity elements on samples from the divertor of JET with ITER-like wall. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2019, 516, pp.202-213. ⟨10.1016/j.jnucmat.2018.11.027⟩. ⟨hal-02177126⟩
V.S. Neverov, A.B. Kukushkin, U. Kruezi, M.F. Stamp, H. Weisen, et al.. Determination of isotope ratio in the divertor of JET-ILW by high-resolution H α spectroscopy: H–D experiment and implications for D–T experiment. Nuclear Fusion, 2019, 59 (4), pp.046011. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/ab0000⟩. ⟨hal-02177120⟩ Plus de détails...
The data of the H alpha high-resolution spectroscopy, collected on the multiple lines of sight, which cover the entire divertor space in poloidal cross-section, during the recent hydrogen-deuterium experiments in JET-ILW (ITER-like wall), are processed. A strong spatial inhomogeneity of the hydrogen concentration, H/(H + D), in divertor is found in many pulses. Namely, the H/(H + D) ratio may be lower in the inner divertor than that in the outer divertor by the values of 0.15-0.35, depending on the conditions of gas puffing and plasma heating. This effect suggests the necessity of spatially-resolved measurements of isotope ratio in the divertor in the upcoming deuterium-tritium experiments. Also, separation of the overlapped T alpha and D alpha spectral lines is shown to be a challenging task especially when the local Doppler-broadened (Gaussian) line shapes are noticeably distorted by the net inward flux of fast non-Maxwellian neutral atoms. We use the respective, formerly developed model of an asymmetric spectral line shape, while analysing the data of the first deuterium-tritium experiment in JET-C (carbon wall), and test the model via comparing the isotope ratio results with another diagnostic's measurements. This model is shown to increase the accuracy of tritium concentration measurements in the divertor.
V.S. Neverov, A.B. Kukushkin, U. Kruezi, M.F. Stamp, H. Weisen, et al.. Determination of isotope ratio in the divertor of JET-ILW by high-resolution H α spectroscopy: H–D experiment and implications for D–T experiment. Nuclear Fusion, 2019, 59 (4), pp.046011. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/ab0000⟩. ⟨hal-02177120⟩
Davide Galassi, Guido Ciraolo, Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, Philippe Ghendrih, et al.. Tokamak edge plasma turbulence interaction with magnetic X-point in 3D global simulations. Fluids, 2019, 4 (1), pp.50. ⟨10.3390/fluids4010050⟩. ⟨hal-02176982⟩ Plus de détails...
Turbulence in the edge plasma of a tokamak is a key actor in the determination of the confinement properties. The divertor configuration seems to be beneficial for confinement, suggesting an effect on turbulence of the particular magnetic geometry introduced by the X-point. Simulations with the 3D fluid turbulence code TOKAM3X are performed here to evaluate the impact of a diverted configuration on turbulence in the edge plasma, in an isothermal framework. The presence of the X-point is found, locally, to affect both the shape of turbulent structures and the amplitude of fluctuations, in qualitative agreement with recent experimental observations. In particular, a quiescent region is found in the divertor scrape-off layer (SOL), close to the separatrix. Globally, a mild transport barrier spontaneously forms in the closed flux surfaces region near the separatrix, differently from simulations in limiter configuration. The effect of turbulence-driven Reynolds stress on the formation of the barrier is found to be weak by dedicated simulations, while turbulence damping around the X-point seems to globally reduce turbulent transport on the whole flux surface. The magnetic shear is thus pointed out as a possible element that contributes to the formation of edge transport barriers.
Davide Galassi, Guido Ciraolo, Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, Philippe Ghendrih, et al.. Tokamak edge plasma turbulence interaction with magnetic X-point in 3D global simulations. Fluids, 2019, 4 (1), pp.50. ⟨10.3390/fluids4010050⟩. ⟨hal-02176982⟩
K. Lawson, K Aggarwal, I. Coffey, K Keenan, M O’mullane, et al.. Population modelling of the He II energy levels in tokamak plasmas: I. Collisional excitation model. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 2019, 52 (4), pp.045001. ⟨10.1088/1361-6455/aaf703⟩. ⟨hal-02177115⟩ Plus de détails...
Helium is widely used as a fuel or minority gas in laboratory fusion experiments, and will be present as ash in DT thermonuclear plasmas. It is therefore essential to have a good understanding of its atomic physics. To this end He II population modelling has been undertaken for the spectroscopic levels arising from shells with principal quantum number n = 1-5. This paper focuses on a collisional excitation model; ionisation and recombination will be considered in a subsequent article. Heavy particle collisional excitation rate coefficients have been generated to supplement the currently-available atomic data for He II, and are presented for proton, deuteron, triton and alpha-particle projectiles. The widely-used criterion for levels within an n shell being populated in proportion to their statistical weights is reassessed with the most recent atomic data, and found not to apply to the He II levels at tokamak densities (10(18)-10(21) m(-3)). Consequences of this and other likely sources of errors are quantified, as is the effect of differing electron and ion temperatures. Line intensity ratios, including the so-called 'branching ratios' and the fine-structure beta(1), beta(2), beta(3), and gamma ratios, are discussed, the latter with regard to their possible use as diagnostics.
K. Lawson, K Aggarwal, I. Coffey, K Keenan, M O’mullane, et al.. Population modelling of the He II energy levels in tokamak plasmas: I. Collisional excitation model. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 2019, 52 (4), pp.045001. ⟨10.1088/1361-6455/aaf703⟩. ⟨hal-02177115⟩
Journal: Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
T. Vasilopoulou, I.E. Stamatelatos, P. Batistoni, A. Colangeli, D. Flammini, et al.. Improved neutron activation dosimetry for fusion. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 139, pp.109-114. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2019.01.002⟩. ⟨hal-02177100⟩ Plus de détails...
Neutron activation technique has been widely used for the monitoring of neutron fluence at the Joint European Torus (JET) whereas it is foreseen to be employed at future fusion plants, such as ITER and DEMO. Neutron activation provides a robust tool for the measurement of neutron fluence in the complex environment encountered in a tokamak. However, activation experiments previously performed at JET showed that the activation foils used need to be calibrated in a real fusion environment in order to provide accurate neutron fluence data. Triggered by this challenge, an improved neutron activation method for the evaluation of neutron fluence at fusion devices has been developed. Activation assemblies similar to those used at JET were irradiated under 14 MeV neutrons at the Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG) reference neutron field. The data obtained from the calibration experiment were applied for the analysis of activation foil measurements performed during the implemented JET Deuterium-Deuterium (D-D) campaign. The activation results were compared against thermoluminescence measurements and a satisfactory agreement was observed. The proposed method provides confidence on the use of activation technique for the precise estimation of neutron fluence at fusion devices and enables its successful implementation in the forthcoming JET Deuterium-Tritium (D-T) campaign.
T. Vasilopoulou, I.E. Stamatelatos, P. Batistoni, A. Colangeli, D. Flammini, et al.. Improved neutron activation dosimetry for fusion. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 139, pp.109-114. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2019.01.002⟩. ⟨hal-02177100⟩
A. Drenik, S. Brezinsek, P. Carvalho, V. Huber, N. Osterman, et al.. Analysis of the outer divertor hot spot activity in the protection video camera recordings at JET. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 139, pp.115-123. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.12.079⟩. ⟨hal-02177109⟩ Plus de détails...
Hot spots on the divertor tiles at JET result in overestimation of the tile surface temperature which causes unnecessary termination of pulses. However, the appearance of hot spots can also indicate the condition of the divertor tile surfaces. To analyse the behaviour of the hot spots in the outer divertor tiles of JET, a simple image processing algorithm is developed. The algorithm isolates areas of bright pixels in the camera image and compares them to previously identified hot spots. The activity of the hot spots is then linked to values of other signals and parameters in the same time intervals. The operation of the detection algorithm was studied in a limited pulse range with high hot spot activity on the divertor tiles 5, 6 and 7. This allowed us to optimise the values of the controlling parameters. Then, the wider applicability of the method has been demonstrated by the analysis of the hot spot behaviour in a whole experimental campaign.
A. Drenik, S. Brezinsek, P. Carvalho, V. Huber, N. Osterman, et al.. Analysis of the outer divertor hot spot activity in the protection video camera recordings at JET. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 139, pp.115-123. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.12.079⟩. ⟨hal-02177109⟩
G. Sias, B. Cannas, A. Fanni, A. Murari, A. Pau, et al.. A locked mode indicator for disruption prediction on JET and ASDEX upgrade. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 138, pp.254-266. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.11.021⟩. ⟨hal-02177084⟩ Plus de détails...
The aim of this paper is to present a signal processing algorithm that, applied to the raw Locked Mode signal, allows us to obtain a disruption indicator in principle exploitable on different tokamaks. A common definition of such an indicator for different machines would facilitate the development of portable systems for disruption prediction, which is becoming of increasingly importance for the next tokamak generations. Moreover, the indicator allows us to overcome some intrinsic problems in the diagnostic system such as drift and offset. The behavior of the proposed indicator as disruption predictor, based on crossing optimized thresholds of the signal amplitude, has been analyzed using data of both JET and ASDEX Upgrade experiments. A thorough analysis of the disruption prediction performance shows how the indicator is able to recover some missed and tardy detections of the raw signal. Moreover, it intervenes and corrects premature or even wrong alarms due to, e.g., drifts and/or offsets.
G. Sias, B. Cannas, A. Fanni, A. Murari, A. Pau, et al.. A locked mode indicator for disruption prediction on JET and ASDEX upgrade. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2019, 138, pp.254-266. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.11.021⟩. ⟨hal-02177084⟩
Y. Hatano, S.E. Lee, J. Likonen, S. Koivuranta, M. Hara, et al.. Tritium distributions on W-coated divertor tiles used in the third JET ITER-like wall campaign. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2019, 18, pp.258-261. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2019.01.001⟩. ⟨hal-02177095⟩ Plus de détails...
Tritium (T) distributions on tungsten (W)-coated plasma-facing tiles used in the third ITER-like wall campaign (2015-2016) of the Joint European Torus (JET) were examined by means of an imaging plate technique and beta-ray induced x-ray spectrometry, and they were compared with the distributions after the second (2013-2014) campaign. Strong enrichment of T in beryllium (Be) deposition layers was observed after the second campaign. In contrast, T distributions after the third campaign was more uniform though Be deposition layers were visually recognized. The one of the possible explanations is enhanced desorption of T from Be deposition layers due to higher tile temperatures caused by higher energy input in the third campaign.
Y. Hatano, S.E. Lee, J. Likonen, S. Koivuranta, M. Hara, et al.. Tritium distributions on W-coated divertor tiles used in the third JET ITER-like wall campaign. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2019, 18, pp.258-261. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2019.01.001⟩. ⟨hal-02177095⟩
Cédric Reux, Sébastien Kahn, L. Zani, Bernard Pégourié, N. Piot, et al.. DEMO design using the SYCOMORE system code: Influence of technological constraints on the reactor performances. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2018, 136, pp.1572-1576. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.05.059⟩. ⟨hal-02115524⟩ Plus de détails...
The next step for fusion energy after the ITER tokamak is the demonstration power plant DEMO. In this framework , system codes are used to address high-level key design issues for the DEMO pre-conceptual phase. They aim at capturing the interactions between the subsystems of a fusion reactor. SYCOMORE is a modular system code which includes physics and technology models coupled to an optimizer in order to explore a large design parameter space. In the present paper, trade-off studies focused on technology modules are reported including the influence of some design-driving assumptions on the reactor performances and size, starting from a European DEMO1-like design (more than 500 MW net electric power and 2 h burn duration). The increase of the mechanical stress limits in TF and CS magnets can help reducing the reactor size, slightly more when high temperature superconductors are used in the TF coil. The tritium breeding ratio can be improved to more than 1.10 by a moderate increase of the size, but the tritium burn-up ratio needs one additional meter of major radius for every percent increase. Divertor coolant options are also compared, showing some differences between helium, hot and cold water scenarios at various incident divertor heat fluxes.
Cédric Reux, Sébastien Kahn, L. Zani, Bernard Pégourié, N. Piot, et al.. DEMO design using the SYCOMORE system code: Influence of technological constraints on the reactor performances. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2018, 136, pp.1572-1576. ⟨10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.05.059⟩. ⟨hal-02115524⟩
Camille Baudoin, Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Nicolas Fedorczak, et al.. Drift driven cross-field transport and scrape-off layer width in the limit of low anomalous transport. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2018, 60 (10), pp.105007. ⟨10.1088/1361-6587/aad650⟩. ⟨hal-02111781⟩ Plus de détails...
The impact of the del B-drift in the cross-field transport and its effect on the density and power scrape-off layer (SOL) width in the limit of low anomalous transport is studied with the fluid code SolEdge2D. In the first part of the work, the simulations are run with an isothermal reduced fluid model. It is found that a del B-drift dominated regime is reached in all geometries studied (JET-like, ASDEX-like and circular analytic geometries), and that the transition toward this regime comes along with the apparition of supersonic shocks, and a complex parallel equilibrium. The parametric dependencies of the SOL width in this regime are investigated, and the temperature and the poloidal magnetic field are found to be the principal parameters governing the evolution of the SOL width. In the second part of this paper, the impact of additional physics is studied (inclusion of the centrifugal drift, self-consistent variation of temperature and the treatment of the neutral species). The addition of centrifugal drift and neutral species are shown to play a role in the establishment of the parallel equilibrium, impacting the SOL's width, although the role of the centrifugal drift is limited to a low diffusion level. Finally, the numerical results are compared with the estimate of the Goldston's heuristic drift based model (HD-model), the starting point of our study, and which has shown good agreement with experimental scaling laws. We find that the particles SOL widths in the del B-drift dominated regime are at least two times smaller than the estimate of the HD-model. Moreover, in the parametric dependencies proposed by the HD-model, the dependency with B-pol is retrieved, but not the one on T.
Camille Baudoin, Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Nicolas Fedorczak, et al.. Drift driven cross-field transport and scrape-off layer width in the limit of low anomalous transport. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2018, 60 (10), pp.105007. ⟨10.1088/1361-6587/aad650⟩. ⟨hal-02111781⟩
Nicolas Nace, Patrick Tamain, Camille Baudoin, Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, et al.. Impact of safety factor and magnetic shear profiles on edge turbulence in circular limited geometry. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2018, 58 (6-8), pp.497-504. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201700174⟩. ⟨hal-02115405⟩ Plus de détails...
The impact of magnetic configuration on edge turbulence properties in circular limiter geometry is investigated using TOKAM3X, a three-dimensional (3D), first-principle, fluid code for edge plasma. The theoretical spatial tilting of magnetic shear on turbulence fluctuations is recovered. Magnetic shear is found to generate or enhance poloidal high/low field sides (HFS/LFS) and up/down asymmetries. A simulation mimicking the impact of an X-point on circular limiter geometry leads to the formation of two transport barriers that are stable in time, thus leading to the improvement of core particle confinement and to reduction of radial turbulent transport. The magnetic shear, which also strongly enhances the E × B shear, is responsible for the barrier formation.
Nicolas Nace, Patrick Tamain, Camille Baudoin, Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, et al.. Impact of safety factor and magnetic shear profiles on edge turbulence in circular limited geometry. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2018, 58 (6-8), pp.497-504. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201700174⟩. ⟨hal-02115405⟩
D Rigamonti, L. Giacomelli, G Gorini, M. Nocente, M. Rebai, et al.. Neutron spectroscopy measurements of 14 MeV neutrons at unprecedented energy resolution and implications for deuterium–tritium fusion plasma diagnostics. Measurement Science and Technology, 2018, 29 (4), pp.045502. ⟨10.1088/1361-6501/aaa675⟩. ⟨hal-02177077⟩ Plus de détails...
An accurate calibration of the JET neutron diagnostics with a 14 MeV neutron generator was performed in the first half of 2017 in order to provide a reliable measurement of the fusion power during the next JET deuterium-tritium (DT) campaign. In order to meet the target accuracy, the chosen neutron generator has been fully characterized at the Neutron Metrology Laboratory of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington, United Kingdom. The present paper describes the measurements of the neutron energy spectra obtained using a high-resolution single-crystal diamond detector (SCD). The measurements, together with a new neutron source routine 'ad hoc' developed for the MCNP code, allowed the complex features of the neutron energy spectra resulting from the mixed D/T beam ions interacting with the T/D target nuclei to be resolved for the first time. From the spectral analysis a quantitative estimation of the beam ion composition has been made. The unprecedented intrinsic energy resolution (<1% full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 14 MeV) of diamond detectors opens up new prospects for diagnosing DT plasmas, such as, for instance, the possibility to study non-classical slowing down of the beam ions by neutron spectroscopy on ITER.
D Rigamonti, L. Giacomelli, G Gorini, M. Nocente, M. Rebai, et al.. Neutron spectroscopy measurements of 14 MeV neutrons at unprecedented energy resolution and implications for deuterium–tritium fusion plasma diagnostics. Measurement Science and Technology, 2018, 29 (4), pp.045502. ⟨10.1088/1361-6501/aaa675⟩. ⟨hal-02177077⟩
Alberto Gallo, Nicolas Fedorczak, Sarah Elmore, Roberto Maurizio, Holger Reimerdes, et al.. Impact of the plasma geometry on divertor power exhaust: experimental evidence from TCV and simulations with SolEdge2D and TOKAM3X. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2018, 60 (1), pp.014007. ⟨10.1088/1361-6587/aa857b⟩. ⟨hal-02114145⟩ Plus de détails...
A deep understanding of plasma transport at the edge of magnetically confined fusion plasmas is needed for the handling and control of heat loads on the machine first wall. Experimental observations collected on a number of tokamaks over the last three decades taught us that heat flux profiles at the divertor targets of X-point configurations can be parametrized by using two scale lengths for the scrape-off layer (SOL) transport, separately characterizing the main SOL (${\lambda }_{q}$) and the divertor SOL (S q ). In this work we challenge the current interpretation of these two scale lengths as well as their dependence on plasma parameters by studying the effect of divertor geometry modifications on heat exhaust in the Tokamak à Configuration Variable. In particular, a significant broadening of the heat flux profiles at the outer divertor target is diagnosed while increasing the length of the outer divertor leg in lower single null, Ohmic, L-mode discharges. Efforts to reproduce this experimental finding with both diffusive (SolEdge2D-EIRENE) and turbulent (TOKAM3X) modelling tools confirm the validity of a diffusive approach for simulating heat flux profiles in more traditional, short leg, configurations while highlighting the need of a turbulent description for modified, long leg, ones in which strongly asymmetric divertor perpendicular transport develops.
Alberto Gallo, Nicolas Fedorczak, Sarah Elmore, Roberto Maurizio, Holger Reimerdes, et al.. Impact of the plasma geometry on divertor power exhaust: experimental evidence from TCV and simulations with SolEdge2D and TOKAM3X. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2018, 60 (1), pp.014007. ⟨10.1088/1361-6587/aa857b⟩. ⟨hal-02114145⟩
Y. Marandet, H. Bufferand, N. Nace, M. Valentinuzzi, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Towards a consistent modelling of plasma edge turbulence in mean field transport codes: Focus on sputtering and plasma fluctuations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.931 - 934. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2017.02.007⟩. ⟨hal-01702229⟩ Plus de détails...
Transport codes are the main workhorses for global edge studies and modern divertor design. These tools do not resolve turbulent fluctuations responsible for the bulk of cross-field transport in the Scrape-off Layer (SOL), and solve mean field equations instead. Turbulent fluxes are modelled by diffusive transport along the gradients of the mean fields. Improvements of this description, on the basis of approaches developed in computational fluid dynamics are discussed, broadening the outlook given in Bufferand et al. (2016) [10]. This contribution focuses on additional closure issues related to non-linearities in sources/sinks from plasma-wall interactions, here sputtered fluxes from the plasma facing components. “Fluctuation dressed” sputtering yields Yeff are introduced and calculated from turbulence simulations. Properly taking fluctuations into account is shown to lead to higher sputtering at sub-threshold energies compared to mean field predictions. As a first step towards an implementation in a transport code, the possibility of parametrizing Yeff in terms of the mean fields is tentatively investigated.
Y. Marandet, H. Bufferand, N. Nace, M. Valentinuzzi, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Towards a consistent modelling of plasma edge turbulence in mean field transport codes: Focus on sputtering and plasma fluctuations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.931 - 934. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2017.02.007⟩. ⟨hal-01702229⟩
G. Ciraolo, H. Bufferand, J. Bucalossi, Ph. Ghendrih, P. Tamain, et al.. H-mode WEST tungsten divertor operation: deuterium and nitrogen seeded simulations with SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.187 - 192. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2016.12.025⟩. ⟨hal-01702237⟩ Plus de détails...
Simulations of WEST H-mode divertor scenarios have been performed with SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE edge plasma transport code, both for pure deuterium and nitrogen seeded discharge. In the pure deuterium case, a target heat flux of 8 MW/m2 is reached, but misalignment between heat and the particle outflux yields 50 eV plasma temperature at the target plates. With nitrogen seeding, the heat and particle outflux are observed to be aligned so that lower plasma temperatures at the target plates are achieved together with the required high heat fluxes. This change in heat and particle outflux alignment is analysed with respect to the role of divertor geometry and the impact of vertical vs horizontal target plates on neutrals spreading.
G. Ciraolo, H. Bufferand, J. Bucalossi, Ph. Ghendrih, P. Tamain, et al.. H-mode WEST tungsten divertor operation: deuterium and nitrogen seeded simulations with SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.187 - 192. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2016.12.025⟩. ⟨hal-01702237⟩
Davide Galassi, P. Tamain, C. Baudoin, H. Bufferand, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Flux expansion effect on turbulent transport in 3D global simulations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.953 - 958. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2017.01.008⟩. ⟨hal-01702255⟩ Plus de détails...
The flux expansion effect on the Scrape-Off Layer equilibrium is inspected through TOKAM3X 3D turbulence simulations. Three magnetic equilibria with analytically controlled flux expansion are built, representing respectively a positive, a null and a negative Shafranov shift. Turbulent E × B fluxes across flux surfaces show similar amplitudes and poloidal distributions in all cases. The ballooning nature of the interchange instability is recovered, with an enhancement of turbulence in the vicinity of the limiter, probably due to a Kelvin–Helmoltz instability. Interestingly, the poloidally averaged density decay length is found to be shorter almost by a factor 2 in the case of flux surfaces compressed at the low-field side midplane, with respect to the opposite case, indicating the presence of unfavorable conditions for the turbulent transport. The difference in the magnetic field line shape is pointed out as a mechanism which affects the turbulent transport across the flux surfaces. Indeed the unstable region has a larger parallel extension when flux expansion in the low-field side is larger. Moreover, the configuration with a lower magnetic shear at the low-field side midplane shows a more unstable behavior. The role of this parameter in turbulence stabilization is qualitatively evaluated. The difference in the distribution of transport along the parallel direction is shown to affect also the parallel flows, which are analyzed for the three proposed cases.
Davide Galassi, P. Tamain, C. Baudoin, H. Bufferand, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Flux expansion effect on turbulent transport in 3D global simulations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.953 - 958. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2017.01.008⟩. ⟨hal-01702255⟩
P. Tamain, C. Colin, L. Colas, C. Baudoin, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Numerical analysis of the impact of an RF sheath on the Scrape-Off Layer in 2D and 3D turbulence simulations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.1171 - 1177. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2016.12.022⟩. ⟨hal-01702267⟩ Plus de détails...
Motivated by Radio Frequency (RF) heating studies, the response of the plasma of tokamaks to the presence of a locally polarized limiter is studied. In a first part, we use the TOKAM3X 3D global edge turbulence code to analyse the impact of such biasing in a realistic geometry. Key features of experimental observations are qualitatively recovered, especially the extension of a potential and density perturbation on long, but finite, distances along connected field lines. The perturbation is also found to extend in the transverse direction. Both observations demonstrate the influence of perpendicular current loops on the plasma confirming the need for an accurate description in reduced models. In a second part, we use the TOKAM2D slab turbulence code to determine the validity of using a transverse Ohm's law for this purpose. Results indicate that a local Ohm's law with a constant and uniform perpendicular resistivity appears at least as an oversimplified description of perpendicular charge transport in a turbulent Scrape-Off Layer.
P. Tamain, C. Colin, L. Colas, C. Baudoin, G. Ciraolo, et al.. Numerical analysis of the impact of an RF sheath on the Scrape-Off Layer in 2D and 3D turbulence simulations. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.1171 - 1177. ⟨10.1016/j.nme.2016.12.022⟩. ⟨hal-01702267⟩
Davide Galassi, P. Tamain, H. Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Ph. Ghendrih, et al.. Drive of parallel flows by turbulence and large-scale E × B transverse transport in divertor geometry. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57 (3), pp.036029. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/aa5332⟩. ⟨hal-01592945⟩ Plus de détails...
The poloidal asymmetries of parallel flows in edge plasmas are investigated by the 3D fluid turbulence code TOKAM3X. A diverted COMPASS-like magnetic equilibrium is used for the simulations. The measurements and simulations of parallel Mach numbers are compared, and exhibit good qualitative agreement. Small-scale turbulent transport is observed to dominate near the low field side midplane, even though it co-exists with significant large-scale cross-field fluxes. Despite the turbulent nature of the plasma in the divertor region, simulations show the low effectiveness of turbulence for the cross-field transport towards the private flux region. Nevertheless, a complex pattern of fluxes associated with the average field components are found to cross the separatrix in the divertor region. Large-scale and small-scale turbulent E x B transport, along with the del B drift, drive the asymmetries in parallel flows. A semian-alytical model based on mass and parallel momentum balances allows the poloidal drift effects on the asymmetry pattern to be evaluated. As in the experiments, a reversed B-T simulation provides a way of self-consistently separating the effects of turbulent transport and large-scale flows, which must be reversed for a reversed field. The large-scale contribution is found to be responsible for typically 50% of the effect on the Mach number, evaluated at the top of the machine. The presented picture shows the complex interplay between drifts and turbulence, underlining the necessity of a global approach to edge plasma modelling, including a self-consistent description of the turbulence.
Davide Galassi, P. Tamain, H. Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Ph. Ghendrih, et al.. Drive of parallel flows by turbulence and large-scale E × B transverse transport in divertor geometry. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57 (3), pp.036029. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/aa5332⟩. ⟨hal-01592945⟩
Hugo Bufferand, C Baudoin, J Bucalossi, G Ciraolo, Julien Denis, et al.. Implementation of drift velocities and currents in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.852-857. ⟨hal-01372986⟩ Plus de détails...
In order to improve cross-field transport description, drifts and currents have been implemented in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. The derivation of an equation for the electric potential is recalled. The resolution of current equation is tested in a simple slab case. WEST divertor simulations in forward-B and reverse-B fields are also discussed. A significant increase of ExB shear is observed in the forward-B configuration that could explain a favorable L-H transition in this case.
Hugo Bufferand, C Baudoin, J Bucalossi, G Ciraolo, Julien Denis, et al.. Implementation of drift velocities and currents in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2017, 12, pp.852-857. ⟨hal-01372986⟩
X. Litaudon, S. Abduallev, M. Abhangi, P. Abreu, M. Afzal, et al.. Overview of the JET results in support to ITER. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57 (10), pp.102001. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/aa5e28⟩. ⟨hal-01660974⟩ Plus de détails...
The 2014-2016 JET results are reviewed in the light of their significance for optimising the ITER research plan for the active and non-active operation. More than 60 h of plasma operation with ITER first wall materials successfully took place since its installation in 2011. New multi-machine scaling of the type I-ELM divertor energy flux density to ITER is supported by first principle modelling. ITER relevant disruption experiments and first principle modelling are reported with a set of three disruption mitigation valves mimicking the ITER setup. Insights of the L-H power threshold in Deuterium and Hydrogen are given, stressing the importance of the magnetic configurations and the recent measurements of fine-scale structures in the edge radial electric. Dimensionless scans of the core and pedestal confinement provide new information to elucidate the importance of the first wall material on the fusion performance. H-mode plasmas at ITER triangularity (H = 1 at beta(N) similar to 1.8 and n/n(GW) similar to 0.6) have been sustained at 2 MA during 5 s. The ITER neutronics codes have been validated on high performance experiments. Prospects for the coming D-T campaign and 14 MeV neutron calibration strategy are reviewed.
X. Litaudon, S. Abduallev, M. Abhangi, P. Abreu, M. Afzal, et al.. Overview of the JET results in support to ITER. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57 (10), pp.102001. ⟨10.1088/1741-4326/aa5e28⟩. ⟨hal-01660974⟩
O. Kazakov, J. Ongena, E. Lerche, M. Mantsinen, D. Van eester, et al.. Efficient generation of energetic ions in multi-ion plasmas by radio-frequency heating. Nature Physics, 2017, 13 (10), pp.973-978. ⟨10.1038/NPHYS4167⟩. ⟨cea-01898634⟩ Plus de détails...
We describe a new technique for the efficient generation of high-energy ions with electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in multi-ion plasmas. The discussed ‘three-ion’ scenarios are especially suited for strong wave absorption by a very low number of resonant ions. To observe this effect, the plasma composition has to be properly adjusted, as prescribed by theory. We demonstrate the potential of the method on the world-largest plasma magnetic confinement device, JET (Joint European Torus, Culham, UK), and the high-magnetic-field tokamak Alcator C-Mod (Cambridge, USA). The obtained results demonstrate efficient acceleration of $^3$He ions to high energies in dedicated hydrogen–deuterium mixtures. Simultaneously, effective plasma heating is observed, as a result of the slowing-down of the fast $^3$He ions. The developed technique is not only limited to laboratory plasmas, but can also be applied to explain observations of energetic ions in space-plasma environments, in particular, $^3$He-rich solar flares.
O. Kazakov, J. Ongena, E. Lerche, M. Mantsinen, D. Van eester, et al.. Efficient generation of energetic ions in multi-ion plasmas by radio-frequency heating. Nature Physics, 2017, 13 (10), pp.973-978. ⟨10.1038/NPHYS4167⟩. ⟨cea-01898634⟩
Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Philippe Ghendrih, Yannick Marandet, J. Bucalossi, et al.. Interchange Turbulence Model for the Edge Plasma in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2016, 56 (6-8), pp.555-562. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201610033⟩. ⟨hal-01455239⟩ Plus de détails...
Cross-field transport in edge tokamak plasmas is known to be dominated by turbulent transport. A dedicated effort has been made to simulate this turbulent transport from first principle models but the numerical cost to run these simulations on the ITER scale remains prohibitive. Edge plasma transport study relies mostly nowadays on so-called transport codes where the turbulent transport is taken into account using effective ad-hoc diffusion coeffecients. In this contribution, we propose to introduce a transport equation for the turbulence intensity in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE to describe the interchange turbulence properties. Going beyond the empirical diffusive model, this system automatically generates profiles for the turbulent transport and hence reduces the number of degrees of freedom for edge plasma transport codes. We draw inspiration from the k-epsilon model widely used in the neutral fluid community. ((c) 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Hugo Bufferand, Guido Ciraolo, Philippe Ghendrih, Yannick Marandet, J. Bucalossi, et al.. Interchange Turbulence Model for the Edge Plasma in SOLEDGE2D-EIRENE. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2016, 56 (6-8), pp.555-562. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201610033⟩. ⟨hal-01455239⟩
Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, L. Carbajal, Yannick Marandet, C. Baudoin, et al.. Interplay between Plasma Turbulence and Particle Injection in 3D Global Simulations. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2016, 56 (6-8), pp.569-574. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201610063⟩. ⟨hal-01455242⟩ Plus de détails...
The impact of a 3D localized particle source on the edge plasma in 3D global turbulence simulations is investigated using the TOKAM3X fluid code. Results apply to advanced fueling methods such as Supersonic Molecular Beam Injection (SMBI) or pellets injection. The fueling source is imposed as a volumetric particle source in the simulations so that the physics leading to the ionization of particles and its localization are not taken into account. As already observed in experiments, the localized particle source strongly perturbs both turbulence and the large scale organization of the edge plasma. The localized increase of the pressure generated by the source drives sonic parallel flows in the plasma, leading to a poloidal redistribution of the particles on the time scale of the source duration. However, the particle deposition also drives localized transverse pressure gradients which impacts the stability of the plasma with respect to interchange processes. The resulting radial transport occurs on a sufficiently fast time scale to compete with the parallel redistribution of particles, leading to immediate radial losses of a significant proportion of the injected particles. Low Field Side (LFS) and High Field Side (HFS) injections exhibit different dynamics due to their interaction with curvature. In particular, HFS particle deposition drives an inward flux leading to differences in the particle deposition efficiency (higher for HFS than LFS). These results demonstrate the importance of taking into account plasma transport in a self-consistent manner when investigating fueling methods. ((c) 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Patrick Tamain, Hugo Bufferand, L. Carbajal, Yannick Marandet, C. Baudoin, et al.. Interplay between Plasma Turbulence and Particle Injection in 3D Global Simulations. Contributions to Plasma Physics, 2016, 56 (6-8), pp.569-574. ⟨10.1002/ctpp.201610063⟩. ⟨hal-01455242⟩
Luc Di Gallo, Cédric Reux, Frédéric Imbeaux, Jean-François Artaud, Michal Owsiak, et al.. Coupling between a multi-physics workflow engine and an optimization framework. Computer Physics Communications, 2016, 200, pp.76-86. ⟨10.1016/j.cpc.2015.11.002⟩. ⟨hal-01461783⟩ Plus de détails...
A generic coupling method between a multi-physics workflow engine and an optimization framework is presented in this paper. The coupling architecture has been developed in order to preserve the integrity of the two frameworks. The objective is to provide the possibility to replace a framework, a workflow or an optimizer by another one without changing the whole coupling procedure or modifying the main content in each framework. The coupling is achieved by using a socket-based communication library for exchanging data between the two frameworks. Among a number of algorithms provided by optimization frameworks, Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have demonstrated their efficiency on single and multiple criteria optimization. Additionally to their robustness, GAs can handle non-valid data which may appear during the optimization. Consequently GAs work on most general cases. A parallelized framework has been developed to reduce the time spent for optimizations and evaluation of large samples. A test has shown a good scaling efficiency of this parallelized framework. This coupling method has been applied to the case of SYCOMORE (System COde for MOdeling tokamak REactor) which is a system code developed in form of a modular workflow for designing magnetic fusion reactors. The coupling of SYCOMORE with the optimization platform URANIE enables design optimization along various figures of merit and constraints. (C) 2015 EURATOM. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Luc Di Gallo, Cédric Reux, Frédéric Imbeaux, Jean-François Artaud, Michal Owsiak, et al.. Coupling between a multi-physics workflow engine and an optimization framework. Computer Physics Communications, 2016, 200, pp.76-86. ⟨10.1016/j.cpc.2015.11.002⟩. ⟨hal-01461783⟩
Cédric Reux, Luc Di Gallo, Frédéric Imbeaux, Jean-François Artaud, P. Bernardi, et al.. DEMO reactor design using the new modular system code SYCOMORE. Nuclear Fusion, 2015, 55 (7), ⟨10.1088/0029-5515/55/7/073011⟩. ⟨hal-01462144⟩ Plus de détails...
A demonstration power plant (DEMO) will be the next step for fusion energy following ITER. Some of the key design questions can be addressed by simulations using system codes. System codes aim to model the whole plant with all its subsystems and identify the impact of their interactions on the design choices. The SYCOMORE code is a modular system code developed to address key questions relevant to tokamak fusion reactor design. SYCOMORE is being developed within the European Integrated Tokamak Modelling framework and provides a global view (technology and physics) of the plant. It includes modules to address plasma physics, divertor physics, breeding blankets, shield design, magnet design and the power balance of plant. The code is coupled to an optimization framework which allows one to specify figures of merit and constraints to obtain optimized designs. Examples of pulsed and steady-state DEMO designs obtained using SYCOMORE are presented. Sensitivity to design assumptions is also studied, showing that the operational domain around working points can be narrow for some cases.
Cédric Reux, Luc Di Gallo, Frédéric Imbeaux, Jean-François Artaud, P. Bernardi, et al.. DEMO reactor design using the new modular system code SYCOMORE. Nuclear Fusion, 2015, 55 (7), ⟨10.1088/0029-5515/55/7/073011⟩. ⟨hal-01462144⟩
