The Wendelstein 7-X project is aimed at demonstrating that an optimised stellarator is an attractive candidate for a fusion reactor. This requires the achievement of a number of technical and physics goals. Several of these goals have already been achieved in the first three experimental campaigns. We shall exemplify this by a number of results. One important goal is the demonstration of quasi-steady-state operation at high plasma density and temperature for half an hour, which encompasses the physical and technical requirements of stable operation with density and impurity control, cw heating, water-cooled targets, particle exhaust, and an appropriate control and data acquisition system for long-pulse operation. In the previous experimental campaigns, with uncooled targets, stationary discharges for up to 25 s with 5 MW heating power and up to 100 s with 2 MW heating power were achieved. For the next operational phase, to start in 2022, water-cooled targets are being installed, water cooling will be provided for all first-wall components, and a number of further upgrades to plasma heating, vacuum and fuelling systems as well as diagnostics will become available. With this equipment, the further goals of the project will be tackled, including the stepwise extension of discharge intervals to the multi-minute range. The experimental results so far have confirmed the neoclassical theory underlying several of the optimisation goals. At the same time, they showed that an optimisation is also required with respect to anomalous transport. In the future operational phases we aim at building a solid theoretical, experimental and technical foundation for the design of a next-step stellarator device.
Wendelstein 7-X on the path to long-pulse high-performance operation
Giannella V.;Citarella R.
2021-01-01
Abstract
The Wendelstein 7-X project is aimed at demonstrating that an optimised stellarator is an attractive candidate for a fusion reactor. This requires the achievement of a number of technical and physics goals. Several of these goals have already been achieved in the first three experimental campaigns. We shall exemplify this by a number of results. One important goal is the demonstration of quasi-steady-state operation at high plasma density and temperature for half an hour, which encompasses the physical and technical requirements of stable operation with density and impurity control, cw heating, water-cooled targets, particle exhaust, and an appropriate control and data acquisition system for long-pulse operation. In the previous experimental campaigns, with uncooled targets, stationary discharges for up to 25 s with 5 MW heating power and up to 100 s with 2 MW heating power were achieved. For the next operational phase, to start in 2022, water-cooled targets are being installed, water cooling will be provided for all first-wall components, and a number of further upgrades to plasma heating, vacuum and fuelling systems as well as diagnostics will become available. With this equipment, the further goals of the project will be tackled, including the stepwise extension of discharge intervals to the multi-minute range. The experimental results so far have confirmed the neoclassical theory underlying several of the optimisation goals. At the same time, they showed that an optimisation is also required with respect to anomalous transport. In the future operational phases we aim at building a solid theoretical, experimental and technical foundation for the design of a next-step stellarator device.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
