Alcator C-Mod Run 941220 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:069a
Date Filed:11/13/1994
Title:Development of New Equilibria for Divertor Geometry Studies
First Author:Bruce Lipschultz
Session Leader:Bruce Lipschultz (shots 1-27)

Operators
Session leader(s):Bruce Lipschultz
Physics operator(s):Ian Hutchinson
Engineering operator(s):Vinny Bertolino

Engineering Operator Run Comment
divertor geometry

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:11:727PM
Author: To Be Determined
Run of 941214
Physics Operator - I. Hutchinson
Session Leader - B. Lipschultz
Engineering - V. Bartolino

MP# 69: Development of New Equilibria for Divertor Geometry Studies

The primary goal of this run was achieved; to produce the
so-called 'slot-divertor' equilibrium. This required implementation of the
STRKPSI controller which has been accomplished. For details of the gain changes
required in this implementation refer to the physics op summary. Slot-divertor
equilibria were obtained for most of the shot (see shots 11-16 & 18). Because
the STRKPSI location was 5 cm above the floor (near probe 3) the flux surface
location was held well there but the actual strike point swept across the floor
by about 4 cm during the shot.
On balance, we did achieve the basic
slot configuration but ran into problems maintaining this configuration
in general and particularly at high densities. Again refer to Ian's summary
for details of why this is so. His recommendation is that we develop a startup
scenario with more initial precharge to alleviate these problems. There
was also the previous recommendation that the EF4 power supply be upgraded.
When we did increase the density it appeared that a localized detachment
did occur, affecting the lower probes on the outer divertor. Shots 19, 20
and 22 should be looked at more closely with this in mind.

shot 01: Shot went fine, strike point on outer divertor high - around
probes 6-7.

shot 02: The strike points on the outer divertor are lower. This shot had
a little gain on STRKPSI. The gain will be raised for the next shot.
The plasma will be lowered as well to reduce Kappa. The outer gap will be increased.

shot 04: The strike point appears to have been moved down. The peak in
ISAT on the outer divertor seems to be on probe 4. This shot had a very low
zxl - -41.5.

shot 05: The stike points seem even lower somewhere in the region of
probes 2 and 3.

shot 06: During the period 420 - 520 ms the strike point is almost at the
bottom of the divertor plate.

shot 07: Again during the early part of the shot, 400-500 ms, EFIT claims
we have a slot divertor. The probes are certainly showing higher
current there with a maximum on probe 2. Ian has implemented a 'jog' in
the STRKPSI at 500 ms. This has a major effect on the plasma strike
points and is only a test of the strength of control.

shot 08: The jog in STRKPSI has been moved out to 600 ms. The density has
been lowered to ~ 1.5 e20. The plasma has been moved outward slightly.
According to EFIT the plasma is in a slot configuration until 620 ms.

shot 09: Slot for longer period. Ian is still incresaing the gain on
STRKPSI.

shot 10: slot lasted longer to almost 750 ms. Ian will lower the gain
on RXL and ZXl some more. He is also adding a 'jog' to the ZXL gain
at 800 ms where he lowers the gain for 50 ms.

Shot 11-13: still twiddling gains on STRKPSI and ZXL.

shot 17: We moved the STRKPSI reference point to the bottom of the divertor from
the region of probe 3. This did a better job of holding the strike point
constant but the x-point was moved quite a bit - a case of the 'tail
wagging the dog'. For the next shot we will go back to STRKPSI in the
usual place.

shot 18: Back to STRKPSI in the usual place, prpare for a density scan

shot 19: Higher density but not quite reaching the levels set. The
x-point seems to be moving towards the inner divertor nose as the
density rises. We will raise the fill pressure to see if we can
achieve the programmed density.

shot 20: We obtained the required density flattops. The probe is scanned
in at .6 and .8 seconds. The x-point is still a problem.

shot 21: disruption, we pushed the gas too hard.

shot 22: Recovered but the equilibrium needs some shifting down to be in
range of the scanning probe. Also, it appears that there may be a
localized detachment appearing on probes 1 & 2 at the outer divertor.
When the density steps up at .6 seconds, the Isats on those probes decay.
When the density drops at .8 seconds, the Isats increase.

shot 23: This one barely makes it through current rise and disrupts at
inversion. We will try to lower the gas and push the plasma further down
closer to the scanning probe.

shot 24: This shot makes it all the way. The max. density is 2.8e20.
The Isat on probe 1 is low untile 800 ms when the density decreases.
The Isats on probes 2 & 3 seem to be affected as well (but not as much as
probe 1). The next shot will be the same.

shot 25: disruption at 350 ms. Blame it on the gas.

shot 26: disruption at 750ms. Again blame it on the gas. Lower the gas.

shot 27: fizzle



Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:36:52:520PM
Author: To Be Determined
Phys Op Summary 941220

PO Hutch, SL Blip, EO Bertolino

"In search of Slots"

Starting from the current shot. Imported Segment 2 from Wolfe's STRKPSI
controller shot 941210003. This has rank-deficient controllers for the
STRKPSI, and STRKIN and is based on shot 941209028, a good divertor shot.
Increased the Integral gain on clearin to match the current shot.

Plan:
Get the STRKPSI controller line going and lower the gains on RXL,ZXL while
trying to get this across to STRKPSI. If this seems to help us get a slot
then exploit it.
If this doesn't seem to get us what we want or if it sends us into a part of
current space where no man has gone before (or wants to!), try to get a plasma
diverted earlier and use the tendency of the early part of the flux swing to
give slots.


Summary:
Both parts of the plan were completed with reasonable success.
The STRKPSI controller was implemented and its gain turned up to the
point where it was dominant over RXL/ZXL. Integral gain on this line
was working by shot 15, at which point good slots were obtained for
most of the shot. Shot 16 had the reciprocating probe inserted. Shot
17 used a STRKPSI estimator moved down to the bottom of the plate. It
controlled correctly but at the expense of large x-point
excursion. This was not pursued.

Thereafter the density was raised to look for detachment. The effect
of the higher density was to cause the x-point to move in till it was
nearly on the inner nose. A further problem with these shots was that
EF2L was zeroing out by about 0.9s and the current rampdown scenario
then caused a big vertical asymmetry and a disruption. A couple of
shots were gassed out in the current rise. Shot 26 disrupted at high
density for no obvious reason. nL of 1.8e20 was obtained on several.

Computing:
The run was seriously handicapped by computer hangs of IGOR,
apparently caused by overloading of certain workstations. This is a
problem that needs to be addressed.

Engineering:
The EF3 power supply was disobeying its command during current
ramp-down and causing otherwise attractive ramps to terminate
abrubptly by crashing on the outer limiter. This appeared to be due to
a trip that arose soon after the TF inversion. This problem needs to
be addressed.

Scorecard:
Shot,Duration(s),Ipmax(MA) Shot,Duration(s),Ipmax
1 1.382 0.828 2 1.453 0.833
3 1.426 0.830 4 1.392 0.830
5 1.418 0.830 6 1.355 0.828
7 1.439 0.828 8 1.478 0.835
9 1.477 0.833 10 1.460 0.835
11 1.461 0.835 12 1.437 0.835
13 1.310 0.830 14 1.323 0.830
15 1.334 0.830 16 1.349 0.830
17 1.372 0.830 18 1.368 0.833
19 1.260 0.825 20 1.298 0.825
21 0.345 0.579 22 1.012 0.840
23 1.011 0.840 24 1.074 0.838
25 0.362 0.616 26 0.745 0.910
27 0.000 0.026
Finished summary for 941220 Total of 27 shots.
27 shots. 26 plasmas. 1 fizzles. 0 duds.

Notice that the first 20 shots had were good and did not disrupt.
26 plasmas in a row.

Shots:
P0=1.5e-5.
1 Pla A fine shot. Mo injection at .35s
Lowered ZXL to -1. Put gain on STRKPSI at P=.5, drawn 0.
2 Pla Strike lowered STRkpsi=.002 @ .6s
STRKPSI gain to 1.
Drew ZXU +.03 (instead of +.02).
Drew ZCUR to -.02 from -.15.
Drew RCUR to .65 from .657
3 Pla Strike rather similar. Plasma moved as asked. STRKPSI=.0016
Argon on.
STRKPSI gain to 2 with a notch.
Drew RXL to -.005
Drew ZXL to -.02
4 Pla Got STRKPSI=.0009. But EF2 railed.
Drew RXL to -.01
Drew STRKPSI to -.003
Drew ZXL to -.015
Delayed the PS inversion to 1.7s
Adjust the ramp down.
5 Pla STRKPSI=-.001 Negative!
Drew ZXL to -.01
Drew ZXU to +.025
Moved the STRKPSI notch to .5s
6 Pla Close to a slot at .4-.5s. Got STRKPSI=-.0015 at .5s. Notch shows up.
Slowed the current ramp down slightly.
Raised CLEARIN to -.005 at .29s
Drew ZXL to -.005
Dropped RXL gain to 2 (from 3).
Raised gas puff to 40 at 21ms to get at the moly influx early.
7 Pla Got STRKPSI=-.0012 and ZXL moved up.
Moved notch to .6s
ZXU/L gains to 4 in ramp down and stretched it out.
Lowered NL to .8 from 1.1
STRKPSI gain to 3.
RCUR out to .657.
8 Pla Got STRKPSI=-.0018. Solid slot according to EFIT .4 to .6s
STRKPSI gain to 4. Removed gain notch. Put in a Drawn notch at .7s
CLEARIN gain raised early.
CLEARIN lowered during ramp and gain continued.
9 Pla Got STRKPSI=-.0021
RXL gain to 1 from 2.
ZXL gain to 5 from 9.
Draw jog negative.
Increased CLEARIN gain early. Adjusted programming.
Drew -.065 clearin during ramp.
10 Pla STRKPSI=-.0023. Diverted slot from .3s throughout.
Lengthened the drawn RCUR and its gain at the end.
ZXL gain to 3. Put a zero gain notch .8 to .85s
Removed strkpsi programmed jog (Bruce told me to!)
Had a problem with IGOR.
11 Pla STRKPSI=-.0025. Still have the RCUR problem at 1.34s.
The EF3 supply is not following demand. ZXL gain notch not seen.
Moved STRKPSI to wire 9 where there is integrator.
Zeroed wire 10.
Raised early gas V some more.
RXL gain to 0.7.
Vinnie delayed the invert timer on EF3.
12 Pla STRkpsi=-.0026. EF3 not fixed.
NL raised to 1.e20.
TF invert time to 1.1s. Low voltage suspected for EF3 problems.
13 Pla STRKPSI=-.0025. EF3 Faulted earlier.
TFinvert to 1.4s
Put integral gain on STRKPSI. Gate .5-.8s. Gain .5.
Made current ramp faster because the engineers haven't fixed EF3.
14 Pla Termination different due to density rise. Integral gain barely visible
STRKPSI=-.0027 slightly less drift.
STRKPSI I to 1.0
ZCUR to -0.015
15 Pla Error improved later. Integral basically works.
unchanged for flat top so scanning probe can be used.
slow the current ramp back now.
Call for scan of probe
16 Pla Probe went in.
Changed the strkpsi reference point to rsout=.6295,zxout=-.5739.
Drew strkpsi at -.001.
17 Pla Succeeded in controlling the new strkpoint but banged the x-point into
the inner nose.
Restored default strkpsi
Drew strkpsi=-.003
Edit zcur controller OH2 weights increased at 1s to 2.5 from 2. (at limit.)
Kept C integrator gate on till 1 sec.
18 Pla Similar to 16. STRKPSI=-.0027
NL two levels: 1.2 and 1.4e20
raised early gas V to 50.
19 Pla Density takes a while to equilibrate. Gas valve appears full open.
X=point is moving more inward.
Raise plenum pressure to 20psi from 14.
Raise NL earlier on ramp.
20 Pla Got the density. But the x-point is still further inside.
Raise ZXL to 0.
Raise NL to 1.6,1.9e20.
21 Pla Disrupts at .34s owing to choking on too much gas.
Lowered drawn density, especially early. 1.4/1.75e20
Installed the superstition. (Ip ramp from .8 to .85MA)
22 Pla Disruption at 1.s. Appears to be caused by asymmetrical EF2 termination.
Got the density we asked for. X-point still inside.
Moved ZCUR controller switch to .9s
Drew zcur at -.02 (c.f.-.015)
Drew strkpsi at -.0025 (c.f. -.003)
23 Pla Disrupts at 1s again. Nearly choked at .3s
eased off on early gas some more.
made the start of the clearin ramp much slower to try to fix the EF2
turn off problem.
24 Pla Disrupts at 1.05s. EF2U goes the other way. We need somewhere between the
two settings.
25 Pla Disrupts at 0.35s.
Lowered early gas
26 Pla Disrupts at .75s.
Lowered NL drawn to 0.5e20.
27 Fiz

Session Leader Comments
Dec 20 1994 08:41:52:730AM941220001Bruce Lipschultzshot 01: Shot went fine, strike point on outer divertor high - around
probes 6-7.

Dec 20 1994 09:02:51:320AM941220002Bruce Lipschultzshot 02: The strike points on the outer divertor are lower. This shot had
a little gain on STRKPSI. The gain will be raised for the next shot.
The plasma will be lowered as well to reduce Kappa. The outer gap will be increased.

Dec 20 1994 09:24:34:760AM941220004Bruce Lipschultzshot 04: The strike point appears to have been moved down. The peak in
ISAT on the outer divertor seems to be on probe 4.

Dec 20 1994 09:56:42:440AM941220005Bruce Lipschultzshot 05: The stike points seem even lower somewhere in the region of
probes 2 and 3.

Dec 20 1994 10:08:14:470AM941220006Bruce Lipschultzshot 06: During the period 420 - 520 ms the strike point is almost at the
bottom of the divertor plate.

Dec 20 1994 10:42:28:670AM941220007Bruce Lipschultzshot 07: Again during the early part of the shot, 400-500 ms, EFIT claims
we have a slot divertor. The probes are certainly showing higher
current there with a maximum on probe 2. Ian has implemented a 'jog' in
the STRKPSI at 500 ms. This has a major effect on the plasma strike
points and is only a test of the strength of control.
but

Dec 20 1994 10:54:30:620AM941220008Bruce Lipschultzshot 08: The jog in STRKPSI has been moved out to 600 ms. The density has
been lowered to ~ 1.5 e20. The plasma has been moved outward slightly.
According to EFIT the plasma is in a slot configuration until 620 ms.

Dec 20 1994 11:18:04:070AM941220009Bruce Lipschultzshot 09: Slot for longer period. Ian is still incresaing the gain on
STRKPSI. He will reduce the gain RXL and ZXL slightly.

Dec 20 1994 11:37:28:000AM941220010Bruce Lipschultzshot 10: slot lasted longer to almost 750 ms. Ian will lower the gain
on RXL and ZXl some more. He is also adding a 'jog' to the ZXL gain
at 800 ms where he lowers the gain for 50 ms.

Dec 20 1994 12:42:19:870PM941220013Bruce Lipschultzshot 10-13: various and sundry modifications of the gains to understand
the relationship of the different controllers.

Dec 20 1994 02:04:32:390PM941220017Bruce Lipschultzshot 17: We moved the STRKPSI reference point to the bottom of the divertor from
the region of probe 3. This did a better job of holding the strike point
constant but the x-point was moved quite a bit - a case of the 'tail
wagging the dog'. For the next shot we will go back to STRKPSI in the
usual place.

Dec 20 1994 02:20:48:600PM941220018Bruce Lipschultzshot 18: Back to STRKPSI in the usual place, prpare for a density scan

Dec 20 1994 02:45:18:110PM941220019Bruce Lipschultzshot 19: Higher density but not quite reaching the levels set. The
x-point seems to be moving towards the inner divertor nose as the
density rises. We will raise the fill pressure to see if we can
achieve the programmed density.

Dec 20 1994 02:57:54:650PM941220020Bruce Lipschultzshot 20: We obtained the required density flattops. The probe is scanned
in at .6 and .8 seconds. The x-point is still a problem.

Dec 20 1994 03:33:14:290PM941220022Bruce Lipschultzshot 22: Recovered but the equilibrium needs some shifting down to be in
range of the scanning probe. Also, it appears that there may be a
localized detachment appearing on probes 1 & 2 at the outer divertor.
When the density steps up at .6 seconds, the Isats on those probes decay.
When the density drops at .8 seconds, the Isats increase.

Dec 20 1994 03:54:33:110PM941220023Bruce Lipschultzshot 23: This one barely makes it through current rise and disrupts at
inversion. We will try to lower the gas and push the plasma further down
closer to the scanning probe.

Dec 20 1994 04:12:19:870PM941220024Bruce Lipschultzshot 24: This shot makes it all the way. The max. density is 2.8e20.
The Isat on probe 1 is low untile 800 ms when the density decreases.
The Isats on probes 2 & 3 seem to be affected as well (but not as much as
probe 1). The next shot will be the same with probe insertion.

Physics Operator Comments

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
108:29:16:590AMPlasmaOkno faults
208:46:13:110AMPlasmaOkno faults
309:02:32:170AMPlasmaOkno faults
409:18:33:500AMPlasmaOkno faults
509:36:01:100AMPlasmaOkno faults
609:53:14:220AMPlasmaOkno faults
710:14:47:590AMPlasmaOkplasma ok oh1 com fail
810:37:43:500AMPlasmaOkok
911:00:22:090AMPlasmaOkno faults
1011:20:41:690AMPlasmaOkno faults
1111:40:48:660AMPlasmaOkno faults
1212:19:45:900PMPlasmaBadef3 inverting early - loss of synch voltage fault
1312:34:03:870PMPlasmaBadef3 inverts early
1412:53:54:610PMPlasmaOkno faults
1501:08:50:280PMPlasmaOkno faults
1601:25:17:480PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
1701:44:50:980PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
1802:05:19:870PMPlasmaOkComm Fault EF1 U&L OH1
1902:20:21:240PMPlasmaOkComm fault EF1 L OH1
2002:40:31:420PMPlasmaOkComm Faults OH1 & EF1 U & L
2102:58:24:610PMPlasmaOkNo faults, Fizzle
2203:15:36:070PMPlasmaOkComm fault OH2U & OH1
2303:35:19:100PMPlasmaOkComm Fault OH2U & OH1
2403:54:08:400PMPlasmaOkComm.Fault OH2L & OH1
2504:19:57:330PMPlasmaOkNo Faults, Disruption
2604:45:36:980PMPlasmaOkNo faults
2705:07:34:470PMPlasmaOkNo faults