Performance Analysis of Low-Power Tokamak Reactors Using Predictive Integrated Modeling Code

Abstract

An investigation of plasma performance for a low-power tokamak reactors proposed by G.O. Ludwig [the 22nd Fusion Energy Conference, 2008, TH/P-3] is carried out using predictive integrated modeling codes BALDUR and TASK/TR. Simulations with the same plasma and boundary conditions from both codes are compared. There are three possible choices of core transport codes used in this study: a semi-empirical based Mixed Bohm/gyro-Bohm model, a theory-based Multimode model and a theory-based Current Diffusive Ballooning Mode model. It was found that the simulation results are quite pessimistic, except those using the Current Diffusive Ballooning Mode model in which a central temperature of above 20 keV was achieved. The sensitivity of the simulation results for plasma engineering parameters such as plasma current and heating power is also carried out. It is found that the performance is improved significantly with the increasing of the plasma current, however the effect of increasing the heating power on the performance improvement is less significant than that of increasing the plasma current.

Keywords: Tokamak; Low-power tokamak; BALDUR, TASK/TR