Extension of the pulsed power supply network of ASDEX Upgrade by a set of compact modular generators

Some years ago, ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) examined its future power supply needs. The experimental program could make use of an extension of the IPP pulsed energy storage, both to allow new scenarios at higher plasma current to be investigated, as well as to allow longer plasma flat-top time. Studies performed in 2001 and 2002 by IPP and external collaborators showed that an attractive solution for this extension is a parallel connection of commercially available compact flywheel generators. Especially the main challenges of this system will be explained in the paper. Further on, the paper will present the parallel and stand-alone mode of operation, analyse the results of measurements obtained during commissioning, compare them to the calculated design values and report on the performance achieved during AUG plasma experiments and Additional Heating operation.