A Snowflake Divertor: a Possible Way of Improving the Power Handling in Future Fusion Facilities

Conference · Wed Sep 17 04:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:945645

Ryutov, D D; Bulmer, R H; Cohen, R H; Hill, D N; Lao, L; Menard, J E; Petrie, T W; Pearlstein, L D; Rognlien, T D; Snyder, P B; Soukhanovskii, V; Umansky, M V

Handling high power loads on plasma facing components is one of the critical issues in developing an economically competitive fusion reactor based on tokamak. In this study, we provide a detailed analysis of a relatively unexplored approach to this problem based on the use of divertors with the poloidal magnetic field structure closely approaching a second-order null. We demonstrate that this geometry opens up new possibilities for radiative divertors, has favorable effect on the convective transport, and provides an additional control over ELM activity. In the ideal case where the null is exactly second order, the separatrix near the null acquires a characteristic hexagonal shape reminiscent of a snowflake, whence the name of this configuration. It can be created by a simple set of divertor coils situated outside the toroidal field coils.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 945645
• Report Number(s): LLNL-CONF-407193
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CONFIGURATION
DIVERTORS
GEOMETRY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
SHAPE
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRANSPORT