Alcator C-Mod Run 930609 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:
Date Filed:
Title:
First Author:
Session Leader:Earl Marmar (shots 1-32)

Operators
Session leader(s):Earl Marmar
Physics operator(s):Ian Hutchinson
Engineering operator(s): Unknown

Engineering Operator Run Comment
Plasma run.

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:07:883PM
Author: To Be Determined
Statistics: 32 Shots. 27 plasmas with >50kA. 5 fizzles, 0 no flash..
____________________________________________________________________
This run demonstrates the ability to run shot after shot with strong
current rise. There are two requirements. (1) Correct field
programming. (2) Gas not exceeding a certain level.

Shots 1-6 were used to adjust the field configuration, in two ways.

The OH2 voltage demand during early current rise was made more
negative to improve the FIELD INDEX and prevent the vertical
instabilities that we observed to be causing many of the fizzles that
had formed a channel on the UVtomo.

In addition, the HORIZONTAL FIELD demand was tuned, with a final
setting of 7 mT. This gives zero, due to unknown offsets. There is a
persistent observation that the OH2 current must be imbalanced to give
zero field. When OH2U-OH2L ~ 350 A, one gets zero BR. The current ramp is
sensitive to the BR demand at about the 1mT level.

It was found that the first good shot raises the base pressure (mostly
hydrogen) very substantially. The following shots, if run at a fill
pressure above about 4E-5 torr will fizzle. Shots 7-26 ( a record run
of 20 in a row) were at 4E-5 and early current ramp was always
achieved, although there were other inexplicable irreproducibilities.
Shot 27 had its pressure raised to 6E-5 to demonstrate the effect of
fill pressure. It fizzled as advertized.

Shots 28-32 were a pressure scan down to 2.7E-5 without excessive hard
x-rays. This establishes that there is a decent pressure window within
which to operate, although the window may move as a function of
recycling and wall conditions etc.

A NEW HORIZONTAL POSITION PREDICTOR was installed on shot 24. It is
based on the difference in flux, as reconstructed by Ian's filament
code, at R=90m and R=44m. When the two fluxes are the same, making the
predictor signal zero, the outer flux surface just grazes the inner
and outer limiter. This predictor looks qualitatively (and to some
degree quantitatively) very similar to the the old predictor of
Wolfe's. However, it has essentially zero offset. In particular, it
can also function directly as an average Bz measure that needs to be
zero to give a good field null before the plasma. It also has the
merit of being a quantitative predictor of the OUTER flux surface,
which is probably the most important to control.

Position control with the new predictor was good. It even managed to
maintain tolerable R-control during disruptions.
____________________________________________________________________
Engineering Problems

There is still a problem with the OH2 response to negative voltage
demand. It is observed that after crowbar, when we require a
substantial negative voltage out of OH2 to make up for the Resistive
voltage just shorted out, there is a growing imbalance in the OH2
current due to imbalanced voltages. This imbalance seems worse the
more negative is the demand. At the end of the run the voltage
programs had been adjusted to OH2U:-70V and OH2L:-55V immediately
after crowbar to compensate for the different power supply
response. It would be very much nicer not to have to do this.

IHH.



Physics Operator Summaries

Session Leader Comments
Jun 9 1993 08:40:54:080AMEarl MarmarToday's run will concentrate on trying to improve breakdown/ramp-up reproducibility.
Focus will be on field gradients, etc. Steve Horne will also be fiddling with the
later parts of the shots.

Physics op: Hutchinson
Assistant: Marmar


Jun 9 1993 08:53:43:920AM930609001Earl MarmarStart from 930608021, gas puff 60V at -10 ms.
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 3e-7

Result:
Got about 50 kA, lasted 33 mS
Lost it vertically (down) at 30 mS; slight horizontal field problem.

Jun 9 1993 09:09:53:270AM930609002Earl MarmarChange for shot 2: Change demand on B_r from 8 to 10 mTesla
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 5.9e-7

Result:
Fizzle. Worse horizontal field.e

Jun 9 1993 09:26:48:470AM930609003Earl MarmarChange for shot 3: Change demand on B_r from 10 to 6 mTesla
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 7.6e-7

Result:
32 kA. Died at about 25 mS. Moved up.

Jun 9 1993 09:40:53:990AM930609004Earl MarmarChange for shot 4: Changed OH2 demand V's just after commutation from
-10 V to -20 V
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 6.8e-7

Result:
45 kA, lost it up starting at about 20 mS

Jun 9 1993 09:58:11:920AM930609005Earl MarmarChange for shot 5: More tweaks on OH2 demand V's just after commutation
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 7.2e-7

Result:
180 kA; no hesitation during current rise
"event" (minor disruption?) at 50 mS - drop in softs, hard burst, density drop
multiple disruptions after 140 mS

Jun 9 1993 10:10:05:740AM930609006Earl MarmarChange for shot 6: More tweaks (same direction) on OH2 demand V's just after commutation
Bcur to 7 mT from 6
Raised PID on Zcur from .1 to .2
Turned off PID on Zcur for t>.35
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 1.7e-6

Result:
Fizzle. Fields all look good.

Jun 9 1993 10:11:05:720AM930609006Earl MarmarChange for shot 6: More tweaks (same direction) on OH2 demand V's just after commutation
Bcur to 7 mT from 6
Raised PID on Zcur from .1 to .2
Turned off PID on Zcur for t>.35
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 6e-5
IGT before init = 1.7e-6

Result:
Fizzle. Fields all look good.

Jun 9 1993 10:28:33:420AM930609007Earl MarmarChange for shot 7: lower fill to 5e-5
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 5e-5
IGT before init = 1.5e-6

Result:
Good shot. Very similar to shot 5. 170 kA.

Jun 9 1993 10:41:00:640AM930609008Earl MarmarChange for shot 8: lower fill to 4e-5
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.6e-6

Result:
Very good shot. Early disruption not as bad. Fields still look ok.

Jun 9 1993 11:08:12:730AM930609009Earl MarmarChanges for shot 9:
OH1 to -200 V (from -100 V)
OH2 to -20 (from -10) 25 to 50 ms
Zcur feedback on time changed to 70 ms from 100 ms
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
Added second gas puff, also B_top, 60 V, 25 ms starting at 400 ms, to test response
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.7e-6

Result:
160 kA; multiple disruptions during current rise
position good early; after biggest disruption at 63 ms, moves up and in.

Jun 9 1993 11:22:55:650AM930609010Earl MarmarChanges for shot 10:
OH1 step down to -680 V at 50 ms, then ramp to -300 V at 100 ms
OH2 step down to -100 V at 50 ms
Gas puff B_top piezo, 60 V at -10 ms
second gas puff, also B_top, 80 V, 30 ms starting at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = ?e-6

Result:
170 kA.
disruptions through most of the shot.

Jun 9 1993 11:30:51:450AM930609011Earl MarmarChanges for shot 11:
z_cur feedback gain from .1 to .15
r_cur ef3 from 2.5e-2 to 2.e-2
rcur P gain from .3 to .5
Gas puff B_top piezo, 80 V at -10 ms
second gas puff, also B_top, 80 V, 30 ms starting at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.9e-6


Result:



Jun 9 1993 11:37:25:760AM930609011Earl MarmarChanges for shot 11:
z_cur feedback gain from .1 to .15
r_cur ef3 from 2.5e-2 to 2.e-2
rcur P gain from .3 to .5
Gas puff B_top piezo, 80 V at -10 ms
second gas puff, also B_top, 80 V, 30 ms starting at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.9e-6


Result:
100 kA; vertically unstable (moved up) at 56 ms.
Cuurent rise slowed somewhat, leading to plasma being at smaller R.


Jun 9 1993 11:54:57:050AM930609012Earl MarmarChanges for shot 12:
rcur P gain back to .3 from .5
Gas puff B_top piezo, back to 60 V at -10 ms, ramping to 40 at +35 ms
second gas puff, also B_top, 80 V, 30 ms starting at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.7e-6


Result:
180 kA, good position early, disruption at 75 ms.

Jun 9 1993 12:12:21:600PM930609013Earl MarmarChanges for shot 13:
rcur P gain to .4 from .3
Gas puff B_top piezo, to 50 V (from 60) at -10 ms, ramping to 40 at +35 ms
second gas puff, also B_top, 80 V, 30 ms starting at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.4e-6


Result:
200 kA, not disruptive until after 100 ms (except for small event at 53 ms
(showed up strongly on UV diode arrays)
position good early, moves down and in later.

Jun 9 1993 12:29:14:350PM930609014Earl MarmarChanges for shot 13:None
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.1e-6


Result:
240 kA, R_softs=70 cm until 110 ms, then moves rapidly in
and current dies in about 8 ms.

Jun 9 1993 12:59:09:530PM930609015Earl MarmarChanges for shot 15:
Ip*Rcur feedback changed from .4 to .6
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.8e-6


Result:
245 kA,
disruptive after 90 ms

Jun 9 1993 12:54:49:560PM930609016Earl MarmarChanges for shot 16: none
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = e-6


Result:
200 kA,
disruptive after 90 ms
EF1's are imbalanced after crowbar

Jun 9 1993 12:55:25:440PM930609016Earl MarmarChanges for shot 16: none
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.1e-6


Result:
200 kA,
disruptive after 90 ms
EF1's are imbalanced after crowbar

Jun 9 1993 01:28:26:710PM930609017Earl MarmarChanges for shot 17:
Moved all crowbars to 70 ms (from 50)
Attempted to change programming on OH's but PCS problem
prevented the changes from being loaded. Crowbars were moved.
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.4e-6


Result:
180 kA,
disruptive after 90 ms

Jun 9 1993 01:38:23:820PM930609018Earl MarmarChanges for shot 18:
Crowbars still at 70 ms
OH changes still did not take.
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.5e-6


Result:
150 kA,
disruptive after 65 ms
position problems

Jun 9 1993 01:55:34:250PM930609019Earl MarmarChanges for shot 19:
OH's changed to correspond to crowbar time (70 ms)
Lowered OH1 to -580 at 71 ms
OH2 to -80 at 71 ms
Turned on B side top valve with 80 V pulse at 400 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.6e-6


Result:
Good shot. 260 kA, fast current rise to 200 kA (54 ms)
Very low hard x-ray level
Quite far outside until 112 ms.

Jun 9 1993 02:08:12:610PM930609020Earl MarmarChanges for shot 20:
Moved R position feedback to turn on at 40 ms instead of 50 ms
B side top valve with 80 V pulse at 400 ms
B top valve post shot pulse turned off
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.1e-6


Result:
190 kA
disruptive after 60 ms

Jun 9 1993 02:24:46:050PM930609021Earl MarmarChanges for shot 21:
B side top valve with 90 V pulse at 400 ms
Removed step in EF3 voltage at 50 ms
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.4e-6


Result:
Good shot until minor disruption at 104 ms
Current rise relatively slow.

Jun 9 1993 02:37:42:730PM930609022Earl MarmarChanges for shot 22: None
Pfill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.7e-6


Result:
Similar to 21, but MHD instead of sawteeth before minor
disruption at 103 ms

Jun 9 1993 02:47:21:400PM930609023Earl MarmarChanges for shot 23:
Lower OH2 to -70 V for ~80 at 70 ms
B side top gas pulse widened to 50 ms and moved to start at 1.0 s.
IGT before init = 3.0e-6


Result:
250 kA
Sawteeth before disruption at 110 ms, MHD after
Position pretty good

Jun 9 1993 03:12:45:540PM930609024Earl MarmarChanges for shot 24:
Installed different predictor (algorithm ihh46dr4) on Ip_Rcur
IGT before init =2.4 e-6


Result:
260 kA
Disrupt at 50 ms, many disruptions after 108 ms
New predictor seems to function properly

Jun 9 1993 03:29:09:000PM930609025Earl MarmarChanges for shot 25:
OH2L to -65 V (OH2 U left at -70 V)
IGT before init = 2.0 e-6


Result:
200 kA
Quite disruptive, moves up after each of two disruptions

Jun 9 1993 03:43:56:190PM930609026Earl MarmarChanges for shot 26:
OH2L to -60 V (OH2 U left at -70 V); attempting to cure
tendency toward vertical instability
IGT before init = 2.3 e-6


Result:
220 kA
lost it vertically after 130 ms

Jun 9 1993 04:01:16:010PM930609027Earl MarmarChanges for shot 27:
Change fill pressure to 6e-5, attempting to get a fizzle
Added second post shot-gas pulse on B top (now 2, 80 V, 50 ms, separated by
50 ms)
IGT before init = ? e-6

Result:
Fizzle!

Jun 9 1993 04:15:28:910PM930609028Earl MarmarChanges for shot 28:
Change fill pressure back to 4e-5
IGT before init = 1.2 e-6

Result:
240 kA
MHD, disruptive

Jun 9 1993 04:27:09:730PM930609029Earl MarmarChanges for shot 29:
Raised EF1 to -150 V at 100 ms (attempt to divert!)
P fill = 4e-5
IGT before init = 2.9 e-6

Result:
210 kA, disruptive, MHD
good position until 130, then lost it down and in.

Jun 9 1993 04:42:20:590PM930609030Earl MarmarChanges for shot 30:
lower fill to 3.5e-5
Changed OH2L to -55 V at 71 ms
P fill = 3.5 e-5
IGT before init = 2.8 e-6

Result:
225 kA
disrupt at 70 ms
good position until 150 ms then lose it up.

Jun 9 1993 05:00:24:390PM930609031Earl MarmarChanges for shot 31:
lower fill to 3.0e-5
Changed OH2L to -45 V at 150 ms
EF1's set to 100 V from 100 to 250 ms
P fill = 3.0 e-5
IGT before init = ? e-6

Result:
220 kA
good during current rise
first disruption at 69 msec


Jun 9 1993 05:08:17:620PM930609032Earl MarmarChanges for shot 32:
lower fill to 2.7e-5
EF1's set to -100 V from 90 to 250 ms
P fill = 2.7 e-5
IGT before init = 2.3 e-6

Result:
220 kA
good during current rise
first disruption at 66 msec


Physics Operator Comments

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
108:40:08:840AMPlasmaOkno flash -- no faults
208:59:27:430AMPlasmaOkno faults -- 20ka plasma
309:12:05:460AMPlasmaOk 20ka plasma -- no faults
409:29:49:280AMPlasmaOk50ka plasma -- no faults
509:45:36:370AMPlasmaOk170ka plasma -- no faults
610:01:18:770AMPlasmaOk20ka plasma no faults
710:12:29:720AMPlasmaOk170ka plasma -- bypass data link on ef1u-- suspect bad pioodal synch.
810:30:12:930AMPlasmaOk170ka plasma -- no faults
910:48:33:590AMPlasmaOk160ka plasma -- no faults
1011:11:07:800AMPlasmaOk170ka plasma
1111:27:54:690AMPlasmaOk120ka plasma
1211:44:28:030AMPlasmaOk180ka plasma
1311:58:18:730AMPlasmaOk200ka plasma
1412:13:24:350PMPlasmaOk240ka plasma -- no faults
1512:30:45:850PMPlasmaOk240ka plasma
1612:47:06:700PMPlasmaOk210ka plasma -- no faults
1701:12:03:760PMPlasmaOk190ka plasma -- some 60hz ripple on oh2 in invert, probably due to inv e
1801:25:26:510PMPlasmaOk160ka plasma no faults
1901:38:45:770PMPlasmaOk260ka plasma
2001:57:43:940PMPlasmaOk190ka plasma -- no faults
2102:13:05:270PMPlasmaOk230ka plasma -- no faults
2202:26:46:670PMPlasmaOk250ka plasma current -- no faults
2302:39:59:370PMPlasmaOk240ka plasma
2402:55:26:220PMPlasmaOk260ka plasma
2503:15:07:200PMPlasmaOk200ka plasma
2603:32:45:930PMPlasmaOk220ka plasma -- no faults
2703:45:11:940PMPlasmaOk20ka plasma due to fill pressure change -- oh1 gate loss at 800Amps cau
2804:05:43:020PMPlasmaOk230ka plasma -- no faults
2904:18:28:720PMPlasmaOk220ka plasma
3004:29:59:190PMPlasmaOk250ka plasma
3104:46:11:200PMPlasmaOk220ka plasma -- no faults
3205:01:47:440PMPlasmaOk250ka plasma