3 research outputs found
Overview of the TCV tokamak experimental programme
The tokamak a configuration variable (TCV) continues to leverage its unique shaping capabilities, flexible heating systems and modern control system to address critical issues in preparation for ITER and a fusion power plant. For the 2019-20 campaign its configurational flexibility has been enhanced with the installation of removable divertor gas baffles, its diagnostic capabilities with an extensive set of upgrades and its heating systems with new dual frequency gyrotrons. The gas baffles reduce coupling between the divertor and the main chamber and allow for detailed investigations on the role of fuelling in general and, together with upgraded boundary diagnostics, test divertor and edge models in particular. The increased heating capabilities broaden the operational regime to include T (e)/T (i) similar to 1 and have stimulated refocussing studies from L-mode to H-mode across a range of research topics. ITER baseline parameters were reached in type-I ELMy H-modes and alternative regimes with \u27small\u27 (or no) ELMs explored. Most prominently, negative triangularity was investigated in detail and confirmed as an attractive scenario with H-mode level core confinement but an L-mode edge. Emphasis was also placed on control, where an increased number of observers, actuators and control solutions became available and are now integrated into a generic control framework as will be needed in future devices. The quantity and quality of results of the 2019-20 TCV campaign are a testament to its successful integration within the European research effort alongside a vibrant domestic programme and international collaborations
Overview of the TCV tokamak experimental programme
The tokamak a configuration variable (TCV) continues to leverage its
unique shaping capabilities, flexible heating systems and modern control
system to address critical issues in preparation for ITER and a fusion
power plant. For the 2019-20 campaign its configurational flexibility
has been enhanced with the installation of removable divertor gas
baffles, its diagnostic capabilities with an extensive set of upgrades
and its heating systems with new dual frequency gyrotrons. The gas
baffles reduce coupling between the divertor and the main chamber and
allow for detailed investigations on the role of fuelling in general
and, together with upgraded boundary diagnostics, test divertor and edge
models in particular. The increased heating capabilities broaden the
operational regime to include T (e)/T (i) similar to 1 and have
stimulated refocussing studies from L-mode to H-mode across a range of
research topics. ITER baseline parameters were reached in type-I ELMy
H-modes and alternative regimes with `small' (or no) ELMs explored. Most
prominently, negative triangularity was investigated in detail and
confirmed as an attractive scenario with H-mode level core confinement
but an L-mode edge. Emphasis was also placed on control, where an
increased number of observers, actuators and control solutions became
available and are now integrated into a generic control framework as
will be needed in future devices. The quantity and quality of results of
the 2019-20 TCV campaign are a testament to its successful integration
within the European research effort alongside a vibrant domestic
programme and international collaborations