Model-Based Shape Control Design for the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX)
M. Alsarheed, E. Schuster, D. Gates, J. Leuer, M. Walker, D. Humphreys
Division of Plasma Physics (DPP) Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society (APS)
Orlando, Florida, November 12-16, 2007
Abstract
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Plasma shape and position control is a challenging problem due to the
difficulties associated with real-time shape identification, plasma
parameters measurement, and control method selection. The recent
implementation of the real-time equilibrium reconstruction code rtEFIT
on NSTX allows plasma shaping by controlling the mag- netic flux at
the plasma boundary. A non-model-based shape controller that exploits
this capability has been recently proposed [1]. We describe current
efforts to develop a robust model-based multi-input-multi-output (MIMO)
controller to provide real-time shaping and position control in the
presence of disturbances and uncertainties in the plasma parameters.
The control design is based on linear plasma response models derived
from fundamental physics assumptions. Computer simulation results
illustrate the performance of the model-based shape control method.
[1] D.A. Gates, et al., Nucl. Fusion 46 (2006) 17–23.