Simulation studies of plasma shape identification and control in Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research

Simulation studies of plasma shape identification and shape control for the proposed Korea superconducting tokamak advanced research (KSTAR) are described. It is shown that the total number of magnetic measurements can be effectively reduced by considering the patterns of magnetic flux and fields, generated by plasma, along a prescribed measurement contour. The effect of eddy currents on shape identification is investigated in dynamic simulations. The isoflux control scheme and a standard PID control law are adopted for the development of a model shape control system. It is shown that appropriate weighting factors of poloidal field coils, incorporating the efficacy of each coil to a shape control point, can significantly reduce the total feedback power required for a shape control action. Finally, a shape control simulation using calculated flux errors, which correspond to a more realistic experimental situation, is presented.