Optimization of an in-vessel visible inspection system for a long-pulse operation in KSTAR

To monitor the global formation of shaped plasmas, motion, and damage to the internal structures of the vacuum vessel, an in-vessel visible inspection system has been developed and operated on the Korean superconducting tokamak advanced research (KSTAR) device. The system contributed much to research progress on KSTAR such as the plasma start-up, plasma wall interactions, edge-localized modes, and disruptions. Moreover the need to perform inspections became important with high plasma power operation because of the increased frequency of first wall damage following off-normal events. Therefore the system is being improved from its original concept, and its final goal is operation during steady-state operation of the tokamak. The system consists of three fast visible cameras and two light-emitting diode illuminators. They are designed to be controlled fully from the control room to provide inspection capability at any time during hostile operating conditions. In this paper, we describe the upgrade of the system and recent results of the visible inspection system with the images of the KSTAR discharges for the last four years. Finally, we discuss the technical issues for a long pulse steady-state operation.