U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Toward fusion plasma scenario planning for NSTX-U using machine-learning-accelerated models
Abstract
One of the most promising devices for realizing power production through nuclear fusion is the tokamak. To maximize performance, it is preferable that tokamak reactors achieve advanced operating scenarios characterized by good plasma confinement, improved magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability, and a largely non-inductively driven plasma current. Such scenarios could enable steady-state reactor operation with high \emph{fusion gain} --- the ratio of produced fusion power to the external power provided through the plasma boundary. Precise and robust control of the evolution of the plasma boundary shape as well as the spatial distribution of the plasma current, density, temperature, and rotation will be essential to achieving and maintaining such scenarios. The complexity of the evolution of tokamak plasmas, arising due to nonlinearities and coupling between various parameters, motivates the use of model-based control algorithms that can account for the system dynamics. In this work, a learning-based accelerated model trained on data from the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) is employed to develop planning and control strategies for regulating the density and temperature profile evolution around desired trajectories. The proposed model combines empirical scaling laws developed across multiple devices with neural networks trained on empirical data from NSTX-U and a database of first-principles-basedmore »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-09CH11466
- Research Org.:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- Keywords:
- NSTX-U; machine learning; optimization; NUBEAM; profile control
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1661166
- DOI:
- https://doi.org/10.11578/1661166
Citation Formats
Boyer, Mark D. Toward fusion plasma scenario planning for NSTX-U using machine-learning-accelerated models. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.11578/1661166.
Boyer, Mark D. Toward fusion plasma scenario planning for NSTX-U using machine-learning-accelerated models. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.11578/1661166
Boyer, Mark D. 2020.
"Toward fusion plasma scenario planning for NSTX-U using machine-learning-accelerated models". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.11578/1661166. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1661166. Pub date:Wed Jul 08 00:00:00 EDT 2020
@article{osti_1661166,
title = {Toward fusion plasma scenario planning for NSTX-U using machine-learning-accelerated models},
author = {Boyer, Mark D},
abstractNote = {One of the most promising devices for realizing power production through nuclear fusion is the tokamak. To maximize performance, it is preferable that tokamak reactors achieve advanced operating scenarios characterized by good plasma confinement, improved magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability, and a largely non-inductively driven plasma current. Such scenarios could enable steady-state reactor operation with high \emph{fusion gain} --- the ratio of produced fusion power to the external power provided through the plasma boundary. Precise and robust control of the evolution of the plasma boundary shape as well as the spatial distribution of the plasma current, density, temperature, and rotation will be essential to achieving and maintaining such scenarios. The complexity of the evolution of tokamak plasmas, arising due to nonlinearities and coupling between various parameters, motivates the use of model-based control algorithms that can account for the system dynamics. In this work, a learning-based accelerated model trained on data from the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) is employed to develop planning and control strategies for regulating the density and temperature profile evolution around desired trajectories. The proposed model combines empirical scaling laws developed across multiple devices with neural networks trained on empirical data from NSTX-U and a database of first-principles-based computationally intensive simulations. The reduced execution time of the accelerated model will enable practical application of optimization algorithms and reinforcement learning approaches for scenario planning and control development. An initial demonstration of applying optimization approaches to the learning-based model is presented, including a strategy for mitigating the effect of leaving the finite validity range of the accelerated model. The approach shows promise for actuator planning between experiments and in real-time.},
doi = {10.11578/1661166},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2020},
month = {7}
}