Operational domain of Proto-MPEX

Conference · Sat Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Fusion Engineering and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2018.03.064· OSTI ID:1486967

Rapp, Juergen  ^[1]; Beers, Clyde J.  ^[1]; Biewer, Theodore M.  ^[1]; Bigelow, Tim S.  ^[1]; Caneses Marin, Juan F.  ^[1]; Caughman, John B.  ^[1]; Diem, Stephanie  ^[1]; Goulding, Richard Howell  ^[1]; Isler, Ralph  ^[1]; Kafle, Nischal ^[1]; Owen, Larry W.  ^[1]; Showers, Melissa A. ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The Prototype-Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) is a linear plasma device to test the plasma source concepts for the future Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX). MPEX is planned to address plasma material interactions under fusion reactor divertor conditions as will occur in devices like DEMO, including the plasma exposure of a-priori neutron irradiated materials. This requires a novel linear plasma device with a plasma source that can produce high electron densities along with heating systems to obtain high electron and ion temperatures. In Proto-MPEX a high-power helicon source was tested together with electron heating (28 GHz microwaves) and ion cyclotron heating (8.5-12 MHz). Electron densities in excess of 1 × 1020 m-3 were produced with the helicon antenna. Electron temperatures can reach 20 eV and are typically below 6 eV at high densities (>5 × 1019 m-3). Ion heating has been demonstrated at low electron densities (<2 × 1019 m-3) with ion temperatures of up to 13 eV. Maximum heat fluxes of 14 MW/m2 have been obtained in low density discharges (~5 × 1018 m-3), while heat fluxes are typically only 2–3 MW/m2 in high density discharges (>2 × 1019 m-3).

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1486967
• Journal Information: Fusion Engineering and Design, Vol. 136; Conference: International Symposium on Fusion Nuclear Technology - Kyoto, Japan - 9/25/2017 8:00:00 AM-9/29/2017 8:00:00 AM, Kyoto, Japan, 9/25 - 9/29/2017; ISSN 0920-3796
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English