Hybrid model predictive control techniques for safety factor profile and stored energy regulation while incorporating NBI constraints

B. Leard, S. T. Paruchuri, Z. Wang, T. Rafiq, E. Schuster

Nuclear Fusion 64 (2024) 086052 (15pp)

Abstract

A novel hybrid Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm has been designed for simultaneous safety factor (q) profile and stored energy (w) control while incorporating the pulse-width-modulation constraints associated with the neutral beam injection (NBI) system. Regulation of the q-profile has been extensively shown to be a key factor for improved confinement as well as non-inductive sustainment of the plasma current. Simultaneous control of w is necessary to prevent the triggering of pressure-driven magnetohydrodynamic instabilities as the controller shapes the q profile. Conventional MPC schemes proposed for q-profile control have considered the NBI powers as continuous-time signals, ignoring the discrete-time nature of these actuators and leading in some cases to performance loss. The hybrid MPC scheme in this work has the capability of incorporating the discrete-time actuator dynamics as additional constraints. In nonlinear simulations, the proposed hybrid MPC scheme demonstrates improved q-profile+w control performance for NSTX-U operating scenarios.