Computational Analysis

Experimental Techniques

Innovation and Experience
 
Background
 

The U.S. has an effort focused on making Tokamak Fusion Reactors a viable clean source of energy. Yet, instabilities in the plasma develop inside Tokamaks that cause material on the interior to be ablated from the Plasma Facing Components (PFC) and, in particular has been observed to destroy materials at the diverter. The magnetic field at the instant of disruption occurs while the field is relatively constant. Solving this problem is imperative to achieving a long-term, cost-efficient energy solution.

Magnet Integrated Power Supply (MiPS)

The University of Florida (UFL) contracted with Tezlatec to provide an electromagnet to study plasma-magnetic field interactions. The UFL plasma source has been thoroughly characterized and is well-suited for simulating certain conditions in a Tokamak.

The system consists of a magnet power source, magnet, safety and control features and expendables.


Over 100 pulses were conducted with the system to assess temperatures and electrical characteristics. With the battery fully recharged to 13.05 V the MiPS delivered a measured average current and peak magnetic field of 741 A and 0.111 T respectively, with a temporal variability less than 1% for a duration of 20 ms after reaching the maximum current.