Nondimensional transport experiments on DIII-D and projections to an ignition tokamak

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/425349· OSTI ID:425349

Petty, C C; Luce, T C; Balet, B; Christiansen, J P; Cordey, J G

The concept of nondimensional scaling of transport makes it possible to determine the required size for an ignition device based upon data from a single machine and illuminates the underlying physics of anomalous transport. The scaling of cross-field heat transport with the relative gyroradius {rho}*, the gyroradius normalized to the plasma minor radius, is of particular interest since {rho}* is the only nondimensional parameter which will vary significantly between present day machines and an ignition device. These nondimensional scaling experiments are based upon theoretical considerations which indicate that the thermal heat diffusivity can be written in the form {chi} = {chi}{sub B}{rho}*{sup x{sub {rho}}} F({beta}, v*, q, R/a, {kappa}, T{sub e}/T{sub i},...), where {chi}{sub B} = cT/eB. As explained elsewhere, x{sub {rho}} = 1 is called gyro-Bohm scaling, x{sub {rho}} is Bohm scaling, x{sub {rho}} = {minus}1/2 is Goldston scaling, and x{sub {rho}} = {minus}1 is stochastic scaling. The DIII-D results reported in this paper cover three important aspects of nondimensional scaling experiments: the testing of the underlying assumption of the nondimensional scaling approach, the determination of the {rho}* scaling of heat transport for various plasma regimes, and the extrapolation of the energy confinement time to future ignition devices.

• Research Organization: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89ER51114
• OSTI ID: 425349
• Report Number(s): GA-A--22385; CONF-9606226--7; ON: DE97001824
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BOHM CRITERION
COMPACT IGNITION TOKAMAK
CONFINEMENT TIME
DOUBLET-3 DEVICE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
H-MODE PLASMA CONFINEMENT
HEAT TRANSFER
SCALING LAWS
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION