Interpretative and predictive modelling of Joint European Torus collisionality scans

Transport modelling of Joint European Torus (JET) dimensionless collisionality scaling experiments in various operational scenarios is presented. Interpretative simulations at a fixed radial position are combined with predictive JETTO simulations of temperatures and densities, using the TGLF transport model. The model includes electromagnetic effects and collisions as well as □(→┬E ) X □(→┬B ) shear in Miller geometry. Focus is on particle transport and the role of the neutral beam injection (NBI) particle source for the density peaking. The experimental 3-point collisionality scans include L-mode, and H-mode (D and H and higher beta D plasma) plasmas in a total of 12 discharges. Experimental results presented in (Tala et al 2017 44th EPS Conf.) indicate that for the H-mode scans, the NBI particle source plays an important role for the density peaking, whereas for the L-mode scan, the influence of the particle source is small. In general, both the interpretative and predictive transport simulations support the experimental conclusions on the role of the NBI particle source for the 12 JET discharges

Low-Temperature Properties of the Sodium-Ion Electrolytes Based on EC-DEC, EC-DMC, and EC-DME Binary Solvents

Sodium-ion batteries are a promising class of secondary power sources that can replace some of the lithium-ion, lead–acid, and other types of batteries in large-scale applications. One of the critical parameters for their potential use is high efficiency in a wide temperature range, particularly below 0 °C. This article analyzes the phase equilibria and electrochemical properties of sodium-ion battery electrolytes that are based on NaPF6 solutions in solvent mixtures of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate (EC:DEC), dimethyl carbonate (EC:DMC), and 1,2-dimethoxyethane (EC:DME). All studied electrolytes demonstrate a decrease in conductivity at lower temperatures and transition to a quasi-solid state resembling “wet snow” at certain temperatures: EC:DEC at −8 °C, EC:DMC at −13 °C, and EC:DME at −21 °C for 1 M NaPF6 solutions. This phase transition affects their conductivity to a different degree. The impact is minimal in the case of EC:DEC, although it partially freezes at a higher temperature than other electrolytes. The EC:DMC-based electrolyte demonstrates the best efficiency at temperatures down to −20 °C. However, upon further cooling, 1 M NaPF6 in EC:DEC retains a higher conductivity and lower resistivity in symmetrical Na3V2(PO4)3-based cells. The temperature range from −20 to −40 °C is characterized by the strongest deterioration in the electrochemical properties of electrolytes: for 1 M NaPF6 in EC:DMC, the charge transfer resistance increased 36 times, and for 1 M NaPF6 in EC:DME, 450 times. For 1 M NaPF6 in EC:DEC, the growth of this parameter is much more modest and amounts to only 1.7 times. This allows us to consider the EC:DEC-based electrolyte as a promising basis for the further development of low-temperature sodium-ion batteries

Some results of full-scale experiments to study the effect of forest fires on atmospheric characteristics

The article presents the results of a series of mesoscale experiments to study wildfires and their impact on the atmosphere. A change in meteorological parameters, a significant increase in fluctuations of the refractive index, speed of sound and temperature in the vicinity of the experiment, which are a reflection of the occurrence of turbulent processes in the atmosphere, were established, experimental data were obtained on changes in the concentration of methane and carbon dioxide as a result of a fire, and data were obtained on the mechanism of occurrence of crown fire

Synthetic diagnostic for the JET scintillator probe lost alpha measurements

A synthetic diagnostic has been developed for the JET lost alpha scintillator probe, based on the ASCOT fast ion orbit following code and the AFSI fusion source code. The synthetic diagnostic models the velocity space distribution of lost fusion products in the scintillator probe. Validation with experimental measurements is presented, where the synthetic diagnostic is shown to predict the gyroradius and pitch angle of lost DD protons and tritons. Additionally, the synthetic diagnostic reproduces relative differences in total loss rates in multiple phases of the discharge, which can be used as a basis for total loss rate predictions

First principles and integrated modelling achievements towards trustful fusion power predictions for JET and ITER

Predictability of burning plasmas is a key issue for designing and building credible future fusion devices. In this context, an important effort of physics understanding and guidance is being carried out in parallel to JET experimental campaigns in H and D by performing analyses and modelling towards an improvement of the understanding of DT physics for the optimization of the JET-DT neutron yield and fusion born alpha particle physics. Extrapolations to JET-DT from recent experiments using the maximum power available have been performed including some of the most sophisticated codes and a broad selection of models. There is a general agreement that 11-15 MW of fusion power can be expected in DT for the hybrid and baseline scenarios. On the other hand, in high beta, torque and fast ion fraction conditions, isotope effects could be favourable leading to higher fusion yield. It is shown that alpha particles related physics, such as TAE destabilization or fusion power electron heating, could be studied in ITER relevant JET-DT plasmas

Interpretative and predictive modelling of Joint European Torus collisionality scans

Transport modelling of Joint European Torus (JET) dimensionless collisionality scaling experiments in various operational scenarios is presented. Interpretative simulations at a fixed radial position are combined with predictive JETTO simulations of temperatures and densities, using the TGLF transport model. The model includes electromagnetic effects and collisions as well as (E)over-right-arrow x (b)over-right-arrow shear in Miller geometry. Focus is on particle transport and the role of the neutral beam injection (NBI) particle source for the density peaking. The experimental 3-point collisionality scans include L-mode, and H-mode (D and H and higher beta D plasma) plasmas in a total of 12 discharges. Experimental results presented in (Tala et al 2017 44th EPS Conf.) indicate that for the H-mode scans, the NBI particle source plays an important role for the density peaking, whereas for the L-mode scan, the influence of the particle source is small. In general, both the interpretative and predictive transport simulations support the experimental conclusions on the role of the NBI particle source for the 12 JET discharges

A new mechanism for increasing density peaking in tokamaks: improvement of the inward particle pinch with edge E x B shearing

Developing successful tokamak operation scenarios, as well as confident extrapolation of present-day knowledge requires a rigorous understanding of plasma turbulence, which largely determines the quality of the confinement. In particular, accurate particle transport predictions are essential due to the strong dependence of fusion power or bootstrap current on the particle density details. Here, gyrokinetic turbulence simulations are performed with physics inputs taken from a JET power scan, for which a relatively weak degradation of energy confinement and a significant density peaking is obtained with increasing input power. This way physics parameters that lead to such increase in the density peaking shall be elucidated. While well-known candidates, such as the collisionality, previously found in other studies are also recovered in this study, it is furthermore found that edge E x B shearing may adopt a crucial role by enhancing the inward pinch. These results may indicate that a plasma with rotational shear could develop a stronger density peaking as compared to a non-rotating one, because its inward convection is increased compared to the outward diffusive particle flux as long as this rotation has a significant on E x B flow shear stabilization. The possibly significant implications for future devices, which will exhibit much less torque compared to present day experiments, are discussed

Deep neural networks for plasma tomography with applications to JET and COMPASS

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have found applications in many image processing tasks, such as feature extraction, image classification, and object recognition. It has also been shown that the inverse of CNNs, so-called deconvolutional neural networks, can be used for inverse problems such as plasma tomography. In essence, plasma tomography consists in reconstructing the 2D plasma profile on a poloidal cross-section of a fusion device, based on line-integrated measurements from multiple radiation detectors. Since the reconstruction process is computationally intensive, a deconvolutional neural network trained to produce the same results will yield a significant computational speedup, at the expense of a small error which can be assessed using different metrics. In this work, we discuss the design principles behind such networks, including the use of multiple layers, how they can be stacked, and how their dimensions can be tuned according to the number of detectors and the desired tomographic resolution for a given fusion device. We describe the application of such networks at JET and COMPASS, where at JET we use the bolometer system, and at COMPASS we use the soft X-ray diagnostic based on photodiode arrays

Modification of the Alfven wave spectrum by pellet injection

Alfven eigenmodes driven by energetic particles are routinely observed in tokamak plasmas. These modes consist of poloidal harmonics of shear Alfven waves coupled by inhomogeneity in the magnetic field. Further coupling is introduced by 3D inhomogeneities in the ion density during the assimilation of injected pellets. This additional coupling modifies the Alfven continuum and discrete eigenmode spectrum. The frequencies of Alfven eigenmodes drop dramatically when a pellet is injected in JET. From these observations, information about the changes in the ion density caused by a pellet can be inferred. To use Alfven eigenmodes for MHD spectroscopy of pellet injected plasmas, the 3D MILD codes Stellgap and AE3D were generalised to incorporate 3D density profiles. A model for the expansion of the ionised pellet plasmoid along a magnetic field line was derived from the fluid equations. Thereby, the time evolution of the Alfven eigenfrequency is reproduced. By comparing the numerical frequency drop of a toroidal Alfven eigenmode (TAE) to experimental observations, the initial ion density of a cigar-shaped ablation region of length 4cm is estimated to be n(*) = 6.8 x 10(22) m(-3) at the TAE location (r/a approximate to 0.75). The frequency sweeping of an Alfven eigenmode ends when the ion density homogenises poloidally. Modelling suggests that the time for poloidal homogenisation of the ion density at the TAE position is tau(h) = 18 +/- 4 ms for inboard pellet injection, and tau(h) = 26 +/- 2 ms for outboard pellet injection. By reproducing the frequency evolution of the elliptical Alfven eigemnode (EAE), the initial ion density at the EAE location (r/a approximate to 0.9) can be estimated to be n(*) = 4.8 x 10(22) m(-3). Poloidal homogenisation of the ion density takes 2.7 times longer at the EAE location than at the TAE location for both inboard and outboard pellet injection

COREDIV numerical simulation of high neutron rate JET-ILW DD pulses in view of extension to JET-ILW DT experiments

Two high performance JET-ILW pulses, pertaining to the 2016 experimental campaign, have been numerically simulated with the self-consistent code COREDIV with the aim of predicting the ELM-averaged power load to the target when extrapolated to DT plasmas. The input power of about 33 MW as well as the total radiated power and the average density are similar in the two pulses, but for one of them the density is provided by combined low gas puff and pellet injection, characterized by low SOL density, for the other one by gas fuelling only, at higher SOT. density. Considering the magnetic configuration of theses pulses and the presence of a significant amount of Ni (not included in the version of the code used for these simulations), a number of assumptions are made in order to reproduce numerically the main core and SOL experimental data. The extrapolation to DT plasmas at the original input power of 33 MW, and taking into account only the thermal component of the alpha-power, does not show any significant difference regarding the power to the target with respect to the DD case. In contrast, the simulations at auxiliary power 40 MW, both at the original I-p = 3 MA and at I-p = 4 MA, show that the power to the target for both pulses is possibly too high to be sustained for about 5 s by strike-point sweeping alone without any control by Ne seeding. Even though the target power load may decrease to about 13-15 MW with substantial Ne seeding for both pulses, as from numerical predictions, there are indications suggesting that the control of the power load may be more critical for the pulse with pellet injection, due to the reduced SOL radiation