Thermal Response of a Lithium Vapor Divertor to Cyclical Operation

Parsons, Matthew S.; Porcelli, Margaret; Emdee, Eric D.; Goldston, Robert J.

doi:10.1007/s10894-025-00479-2

Thermal Response of a Lithium Vapor Divertor to Cyclical Operation

Journal Article · Fri Feb 14 04:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Fusion Energy (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10894-025-00479-2· OSTI ID:2519055

Parsons, Matthew S.; Porcelli, Margaret; Emdee, Eric D.; Goldston, Robert J.

Abstract

The lithium vapor divertor concept is being developed as a method to achieve detached divertor conditions in a tokamak while minimizing impurity radiation losses from the core plasma. SOLPS-ITER modeling has previously been used to identify some of the geometric constraints and required lithium evaporation rate of a lithium vapor divertor in a medium-sized tokamak during steady-state operation. Here an updated conceptual design based on these operating requirements is introduced and the thermal response of the system is modeled during cyclical operation, consistent with operation in a short-pulse tokamak. Controllability of the temperature of the lithium capillary porous system (CPS) is achieved by adopting a design where there is no line-of-sight for radiation from the plasma to reach the heated CPS surface. Operational strategies to minimize the amount of lithium evaporated between plasma discharges while achieving steady evaporation rates during plasma discharges are discussed and modeled here. The optimal feedforward control strategy demonstrated in this work is to ramp up the temperature of the evaporator as quickly as possible immediately before a plasma discharge and then reduce the heating to match the desired steady-state net evaporation rate just before the plasma discharge begins, allowing the thermal inertia of the system to stabilize the evaporation rate during the first second of the plasma discharge.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466

OSTI ID:: 2519055

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2526588

Journal Information:: Journal of Fusion Energy (Online), Journal Name: Journal of Fusion Energy (Online) Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 44; ISSN 1572-9591

Publisher:: Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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