First-Principles-Driven Model-Based Control of the Poloidal Magnetic Flux Profile at the DIII-D Tokamak

Abstract Efficient, high-gain operation of a tokamak device requires the achievement of certain radial shapes for the toroidal current profile. The evolution in time of the toroidal current profile in tokamaks is related to the evolution of the poloidal magnetic flux profile. A model-based control approach for the regulation of the poloidal magnetic flux profile at the DIII-D tokamak is proposed in this work. The model describing the poloidal flux evolution is based on a control-oriented formulation of the magnetic diffusion equation. Auxiliary heating and current drive (H&CD) systems including electron cyclotron (EC) and neutral beam injection (NBI) along with the total plasma current are used as actuators to manipulate the profile shape. Optimal state feedback control with integral action is used to design a controller to regulate the profile around a target while rejecting disturbances. Combining the profile controller with control of the plasma stored energy is found to improve tracking performance. Simulations and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the controller's effectiveness.