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MHD Simulations of Plasma Dynamics in Devices With Non-Axisymmetric Boundaries

Author: Chris J Hansen
Requested Type: Poster Only
Submitted: 2015-01-19 20:32:37

Co-authors: J. Levesque, J. Schmitt, B. Victor, G. Marklin, T. Jarboe

Contact Info:
University of Washington
University of Washington, Box
Seattle, Washington   98195
United States

Abstract Text:
The PSI-TET 3D extended MHD code is applied to linear and non-linear simulations of MCF plasmas with non-axisymmetric boundaries. Progress and results from simulations on three experiments will be presented: 1) Detailed validation studies of the HIT-SI experiment with self-consistent modeling of plasma dynamics in the helicity injectors. Results will be compared to experimental data and NIMROD simulations that model the effect of the helicity injectors through boundary conditions on an axisymmetric domain. Application of Biorthogonal Decomposition (BD) as a tool for quantitative data comparison to experimental results will also be presented. 2) Equilibrium development for simulations of LTX plasmas in the presence of large non-axisymmetric eddy currents. Long-lived currents generated in the segmented, close-fitting conducting wall complicate equilibrium reconstruction and initial conditions for dynamic simulations. Results from eddy current simulations with realistic 3D geometry and axisymmetric equilibrium reconstruction with a simplified 3D eddy current model will be presented. 3) Linear studies of HBT-EP with different wall configurations focusing on toroidal asymmetries in the adjustable conducting wall. HBT-EP studies the effect of active and passive wall stabilization with an adjustable ferromagnetic wall. Results from linear verification and benchmark studies of ideal mode growth with and without toroidal asymmetries will be presented and compared to DCON predictions. Simulations of detailed experimental geometries are enabled by use of the PSI-TET code, which employs a high order finite element method on unstructured tetrahedral grids that are generated directly from CAD models. Further development of PSI-TET will also be presented including work to support solid conducting regions within extended MHD simulations and implementation of a plasma-neutral fluid model. Work supported by DOE.

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