Latest Results from Proto-MPEX and the Future Plans for MPEX

Rapp, Juergen; Lumsdaine, Arnold; Beers, Clyde J.; Biewer, Theodore M.; Bigelow, Tim S.; Caneses, Juan F.; Caughman, John B. O.; Goulding, Richard H.; Kafle, Nischal; Lau, Cornwall H.; Lindquist, Elizabeth; Piotrowicz, Pawel A.; Ray, Holly; Showers, Melissa A.

doi:10.1080/15361055.2019.1610315

Latest Results from Proto-MPEX and the Future Plans for MPEX

Journal Article · Wed Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Fusion Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2019.1610315· OSTI ID:1649621

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)

The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) is being used to qualify the plasma source and heating systems for the Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX). The MPEX will address important and urgent research needs on plasma material interactions for future fusion reactors. In MPEX, plasma-facing components (nonirradiated and a priori neutron irradiated) will be exposed to plasma conditions as they are expected in future fusion reactors. The MPEX, a steady-state device enabled by superconducting magnets, will be able to break into new ground by assessing plasma-facing materials and components at an ion fluence level in the range of 10³⁰ to 10³¹ m^-2. To achieve the relevant plasma conditions, high-density plasmas (>4 × 10¹⁹ m^-3) are produced with a high-power helicon source. The so-produced low-temperature helicon plasma is then additionally heated with waves in the ion cyclotron resonance frequency and electron cyclotron resonance frequency domains. Proto-MPEX has achieved all key parameters (source n_e, source T_e, source T_i, target T_e, target T_i, target ion flux, and target heat flux) within a factor of 2 of the design requirements of MPEX, albeit not simultaneously. These parameters were achieved with a total installed heating power of 330 kW, which is less than half of the planned heating power in the MPEX (800 kW). An overview of the latest results from Proto-MPEX is given. These results are shown in relationship to the MPEX system goals. Remaining necessary research and development tasks are discussed. The MPEX is currently in the conceptual design phase. Lastly, the status of the design and an overview of the system requirements are presented.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1649621

Journal Information:: Fusion Science and Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Science and Technology Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 75; ISSN 1536-1055

Publisher:: American Nuclear SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (17)

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