A study of X-divertor in NSTX-U with SOLPS simulations

Zhong Ping Chen; Mike Kotschenreuther; Swadesh Mahajan; Stefan Gerhardt

doi:10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca

A study of X-divertor in NSTX-U with SOLPS simulations

Zhong Ping Chen
, Mike Kotschenreuther
, Swadesh Mahajan
, Stefan Gerhardt

PPPL NSTX

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The X-divertor (XD) geometry in NSTX-U is demonstrated, via SOLPS simulations, to perform better than the standard divertor (SD); in particular, it allows detachment at a lower upstream density and stabilizes the detachment front near the target, away from the main X-point. Consequently a stable detached operation becomes possible - the localization near the plate allows a vast reduction of heat fluxes without degrading the core plasma. Indeed, it is confirmed by our simulation that at similar states of detachment the XD outperforms the SD by reducing the heat fluxes to the target and maintaining higher upstream temperatures, resulting in scrape-off layers that are more favorable for advanced tokamak operation. These advantages are attributed to the unique geometric characteristics of XD - poloidal flaring near the target.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	036015
Journal	Nuclear Fusion
Volume	58
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca
State	Published - Jan 25 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Condensed Matter Physics

Keywords

detachment
divertor
magnetic geometry
NSTX-U
X-divertor

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10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca

Cite this

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title = "A study of X-divertor in NSTX-U with SOLPS simulations",

abstract = "The X-divertor (XD) geometry in NSTX-U is demonstrated, via SOLPS simulations, to perform better than the standard divertor (SD); in particular, it allows detachment at a lower upstream density and stabilizes the detachment front near the target, away from the main X-point. Consequently a stable detached operation becomes possible - the localization near the plate allows a vast reduction of heat fluxes without degrading the core plasma. Indeed, it is confirmed by our simulation that at similar states of detachment the XD outperforms the SD by reducing the heat fluxes to the target and maintaining higher upstream temperatures, resulting in scrape-off layers that are more favorable for advanced tokamak operation. These advantages are attributed to the unique geometric characteristics of XD - poloidal flaring near the target.",

keywords = "detachment, divertor, magnetic geometry, NSTX-U, X-divertor",

author = "Chen, \{Zhong Ping\} and Mike Kotschenreuther and Swadesh Mahajan and Stefan Gerhardt",

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year = "2018",

month = jan,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "58",

journal = "Nuclear Fusion",

issn = "0029-5515",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A study of X-divertor in NSTX-U with SOLPS simulations

AU - Chen, Zhong Ping

AU - Kotschenreuther, Mike

AU - Mahajan, Swadesh

AU - Gerhardt, Stefan

PY - 2018/1/25

Y1 - 2018/1/25

N2 - The X-divertor (XD) geometry in NSTX-U is demonstrated, via SOLPS simulations, to perform better than the standard divertor (SD); in particular, it allows detachment at a lower upstream density and stabilizes the detachment front near the target, away from the main X-point. Consequently a stable detached operation becomes possible - the localization near the plate allows a vast reduction of heat fluxes without degrading the core plasma. Indeed, it is confirmed by our simulation that at similar states of detachment the XD outperforms the SD by reducing the heat fluxes to the target and maintaining higher upstream temperatures, resulting in scrape-off layers that are more favorable for advanced tokamak operation. These advantages are attributed to the unique geometric characteristics of XD - poloidal flaring near the target.

AB - The X-divertor (XD) geometry in NSTX-U is demonstrated, via SOLPS simulations, to perform better than the standard divertor (SD); in particular, it allows detachment at a lower upstream density and stabilizes the detachment front near the target, away from the main X-point. Consequently a stable detached operation becomes possible - the localization near the plate allows a vast reduction of heat fluxes without degrading the core plasma. Indeed, it is confirmed by our simulation that at similar states of detachment the XD outperforms the SD by reducing the heat fluxes to the target and maintaining higher upstream temperatures, resulting in scrape-off layers that are more favorable for advanced tokamak operation. These advantages are attributed to the unique geometric characteristics of XD - poloidal flaring near the target.

KW - detachment

KW - divertor

KW - magnetic geometry

KW - NSTX-U

KW - X-divertor

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85042141479#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca

DO - 10.1088/1741-4326/aaa5ca

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85042141479

SN - 0029-5515

VL - 58

JO - Nuclear Fusion

JF - Nuclear Fusion

IS - 3

M1 - 036015

ER -

A study of X-divertor in NSTX-U with SOLPS simulations

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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