National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) and Planned Research

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:1022035

Peng, Yueng Kay Martin ^[1]; Ono, M. ^[2]; Kaye, S. ^[2]; Neumeyer, C. L. ^[2]

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1. ORNL
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)

The U.S. fusion energy sciences program began in 1996 to increase emphasis on confinement concept innovation. The NSTX is being built at PPPL as a national fusion science research facility in response to this emphasis. NSTX is to test fusion science principles of the Spherical Torus (ST) plasmas, which include: (1) High plasma pressure in low magnetic field for high fusion power density, (2) Good energy confinement is a small-size plasma, (3) Nearly fully self-driven (bootstrap) plasma current, (4) Dispersed heat and particle fluxes, and (5) Plasma startup without complicated in board solenoid magnet. These properties of the ST plasma, if verified, would lead to possible future fusion devices of high fusion performance, small size, feasible power handling, and improved economy. The design of NSTX is depicted in a figure. The vessel will be covered fully with graphite tiles and can be baked to 350 C. Other wall condition techniques are also planned. The NSTX facilty extensively utilizes the equipment at PPPL and other reasearch institutions in collaboration. These include 6-MW High Harmonic Fast Wave (HHFW) power at {approx}30 MHz for 5 s, which will be the primary heating and current drive system following the first plasma planned for April 1999, and small ECH systems to assist breakdown for initiation. A plethora of diagnostics from TFTR and collaborators are planned. A NBI system from TFTR capable of delivering 5 MW at 80 keV for 5 s, and more powerful ECH systems are also planned for installation in 2000. The baseline plan for diagnostics systems are laid out in a figure and include: (1) Rogowski coils to measure total plasma and halo curents.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1022035
• Resource Relation: Conference: 1998 International Congress on Plasma Physics & 25th EPS Conference on Controlled Fusion and Plasma Physics,, Praha, Czechoslovokia, 19980629, 19980629
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BOOTSTRAP CURRENT
BREAKDOWN
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
DESIGN
ECONOMY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
GRAPHITE
HARMONICS
HEAT
HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEETINGS
NSTX DEVICE
PARTICLES
PERFORMANCE
PLASMA
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA PRESSURE
POWER
POWER DENSITY
ROGOWSKI COIL
SIZE
SOLENOIDS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
WALL EFFECTS