Alcator C-Mod Run 950404 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:
Date Filed:
Title:
First Author:
Session Leader:Ian Hutchinson (shots 1-29)
Miniproposal:094
Date Filed: 3/1/1995
Title:Ohmic H Modes at Low q with Ion Grad B Drift away from the X point
First Author:Joseph Snipes
Session Leader:Joseph Snipes (shots 30-39)

Operators
Session leader(s):Ian Hutchinson,Joseph Snipes
Physics operator(s):Steve Wolfe
Engineering operator(s):Vinny Bertolino,Joe Daigle

Engineering Operator Run Comment
reveresed field (normal)

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:13:100PM
Author: To Be Determined
10 shots for MP094 Low q H-mode Run with Ion Grad B Drift away from X point
Engineer in Charge: Joe Daigle
Physics Operator: Steve Wolfe
Session Leader: Joe Snipes

While the power supplies and the rest of the machine ran well, there were
problems getting the current to rise with the reversed field. Finally, by
shot 30, we got a decent plasma. The density was varied from about 6 x
10^19 m^-2 to 9 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-modes were observed even though the
P/(nBS) values exceeded 0.04 or even 0.05. So, it appears that the
threshold is higher with the ion grad B drift away from the X point. It
remains to flip the X point up and see if we can get H-modes.

Shotlist
30 Ip=0.64 MA, nel=5.7 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-mode
31 Ip=0.64 MA, nel=6.5 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-mode
32 Disrupted at 0.16 sec
33 Disrupted at 0.3 sec
34 Ip=0.7 MA, No H-mode. P/(nBS)=0.03.
35 Ip=0.85 MA. No H-mode. P/(nBS)=0.04
36 nel=7.5 x 10^19 m^-2. P/(nBS)=0.04. No H-mode
37 Ip=0.95 MA. P/(nBS) between 0.04 and 0.05. No H-mode
38 nel = 6 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-mode
39 nel = 9 x 10^19 m^-2. P/(nBS) = 0.044. No H-mode

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:36:53:740PM
Author: To Be Determined
Physics Operator Summary for 950404

MP#027 Reverse field startup
MP#094 Reverse field low-q ohmic H-mode

SL: Hutch & Snipes
PO: Wolfe
EO: Bertolino,Daigle

The first task was to get a good startup with reverse field. We chose to make
our task that much harder by looking for a low-field startup, so we could run
this low-q run. After a lot of struggling, we succeeded. For a record of the
struggles, see the LOGBOOK under PHYSICS_OPERATOR. It is recommended
that the startup from shot #29 on be used for all subsequent reverse-field
runs. See procedure for running old segment 2's below.

Shots 30-39 were devoted to MP#094, a search for ohmic H-modes with low-q,
low-field. The starting shot was based on 950214014, modified as described below.
All startups were successful, but we had some unexplained
disruptions on #32 and 33 (before flattop), 36 and 37 (beginning of
rampdown), and 38 (.7 sec). #36 and 37 may have been due to OH1 hitting its
current rail at 20kA. The problem on #38 is unexplained; the OH1 limit was
moved out to 25kA for 38 and 39, which ran ok. Some of these also had EF1U on
its voltage rail.

The main parameters on the physics shots were:
Shot# Ip (Prog) Ip(actual) NL_04 Comments
---- -------- --------- ----- ________
29 680kA 630 6e19
30 " " " Add EF2_by_EF4 control
31 " " 7e19 Increase CLEARIN
32 750 -- " Disrupted early
33 " -- " "
34 " 700 " Slow NL and CLEARIN ramps
35 900 850 "
36 " " " Reduce NL gain from 8->4
37 1MA 950 " Disrupted at 1.03
38 " " 6e19 Raise OH1 limit. Disr. @0.7sec
39 " " 1.e20 Ran ok.

As can be seen from the above table, the current offset is still there, and
for this polarity results in getting less Ip than programmed, instead of more.
This should probably be dealt with by an offset in the predictor screen, but
one can also adjust what is drawn.

The Z-meter indicated higer than normal Zeff today, and Irby noted that the
Argon level is about 20 times higher than normal (Rayleigh calibration on
Saturday.) The first shots that made it past 100msec looked horribly dirty and
disruptive.

Granetz's check_magnetics routine was reporting no signal on F14 for much of
the morning; this was apparently due to a bad low order bit on the digitizer.

Operation at q_psi down to 2.5 was accomplished, although all of the 950kA
shots except 39 disrupted (halo warnings).

Recommended procedure for running with reverse field:
-----------------------------------------------------
Ask for engineering setup (timings, comm. resistors) as on 950404, but with
the TF current from the run you want (normal 5.3 Tesla operation is 156kA).

Use a Segment 1 from after shot 950404029. This should work ok with the field
ramping past.

Load the segment 2 you want; if this was from normal field operation, make the
following changes:
1) Bring up the ALL_P screen and use "FLIP" (under right mouse button)
to invert Ip and all coil current waveforms in use, typically IC_EF4
and EF2_by_EF4. If you aren't using EF2_by_EF4 you probably should
modify your programming to do so. See Ian's report from 950331.
2) Bring up the V screen and use "FLIP" to invert all the power supply
voltages: OH1, CHOPPER, OH2U, OH2L, EF1U, EF1L, EF2U, EF2L, EF4, EF3.
Do not get carried away and invert the pulsed gas.
3) Bring up the RCUR screen and change the offset from 8000 to 1000.
If you find that the offset was not 8000, you probably have an
obsolete predictor. In that case, use the "CALL" button to recalculate
the predictor, and then put 1000. in the offset field. You may need to
reduce the FACTOR a small amount as well. If the RCUR predictor was bad,
you probably should recalculate all the magnetics predictors, as they are
probably out of date as well. Note that this has nothing to do with reverse
field per se.
4) Note that the current you get is going to be less than what you drew
by about 50kA. To correct this, either re-draw the waveform, or add an
offset to the Ip. I think you want to put in +50000, but I may have
the sign wrong.
5) Load and go.

Scorecard:
----------
Tests 1
Duds 1
Fizzles 21
Plasmas 16 (> 50kA)
------- --
Shots 39

Session Leader Comments
Apr 4 1995 02:53:05:090PM950404030Joseph SnipesShot 30
Good shot. Ip = 0.7 MA and BT = 3.55 T, nel = 5.7 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-mode.

Apr 4 1995 03:08:29:790PM950404031Joseph SnipesShot 31
Good shot. Ip = 0.64 MA and BT = 3.55 T, nel = 6.5 x 10^19 m^-2. No H-mode.

Apr 4 1995 03:31:28:910PM950404032Joseph SnipesShot 32
Disrupts at 0.16 sec.

Apr 4 1995 03:31:50:650PM950404032Joseph SnipesShot 33
Disrupts at 0.3 sec.

Apr 4 1995 04:08:11:300PM950404034Joseph SnipesShot 34
Ip = 0.7 MA. Good shot. No H-mode. P/(nBS) = 0.03.

Apr 4 1995 04:12:01:500PM950404035Joseph SnipesShot 35
Ip = 0.85 MA. Good shot. No H-mode. P/(nBS) = 0.04.

Apr 4 1995 04:23:28:070PM950404036Joseph SnipesShot 36
Repeat. Ip = 0.85 MA. Good shot. No H-mode. P/(nBS) = 0.04.

Apr 4 1995 04:37:51:510PM950404036Joseph SnipesShot 37
Ip = 0.95 MA. Good shot. No H-mode. P/(nBS) between 0.04 and 0.05.

Apr 4 1995 04:45:18:700PM950404037Joseph SnipesShot 37
Ip = 0.95 MA. Good shot. No H-mode. P/(nBS) between 0.04 and 0.05.

Apr 4 1995 04:49:29:050PM950404038Joseph SnipesShot 38
Ip = 0.95 MA. Disrupted at 0.7 sec. No H-mode. P/(nBS) between 0.05 and 0.06
before the disruption.

Apr 4 1995 05:10:45:810PM950404039Joseph SnipesShot 39
nel set to 0.9 x 10^20 m^-2. Ip = 0.95 MA. Good shot. P/(nBS) = 0.044 but
no H-mode. Threshold appears to be higher for the grad B drift away from the
X point.

Physics Operator Comments
Apr 4 1995 07:23:38:380AMSteve WolfeRun Plan for 950404
First day with reverse field

MP 027 (Reverse field startup) and
{MP 094 Low q H-mode or
MP 107 Reverse field SOL }

SL: Hutch & {Snipes or LaBombard}
PO: Wolfe (all day)

Engineering set up from 950214014:
Note that this involves a non-standard OH2 comm. resistor and
Strange TF current limit and start time.
A-side plenum at 19psi D2
Pre-run ECDC in D2

Apr 4 1995 07:23:56:390AMSteve Wolfe1A. We'll start from 950214014, a low-q, low-field 700kA shot, with waveforms
suitably flipped for reverse field operation. The first task will be to get a
successful startup at the low Bt. We will limit our pain in this attempt to 15
shots or 12 noon, whichever comes first. The remainder of the run will depend
on whether we accomplish this goal. If we do, proceed to 2A; if not, go to
plan 1B, below.

2A. Assuming success on 1A, start with a 700kA discharge with density ramping
down from NL_04=7e19 to < 5e19. Set up the EF2_by_EF4 control to help on the
disruption problem that plagued the 2/14 run.

3A. If no H-modes are obtained, increase current to 0.85MA to increase ohmic
power. Continue to increase current as long as it looks safe from the
disruption point of view, until we either find the ohmic H-mode threshold or
set an upper limit.

Apr 4 1995 07:24:39:010AMSteve Wolfe1B. If low-field startup doesn't work, punt this and go back to a standard
5.3T startup, suitably flipped. Use setup from Friday, 950331027. Struggle
with this until it works.

2B. Once successful startup has been achieved, start the MP#107 program in the
time remaining, if any. Tune up an 800kA shot with density ramp from
NL_04=.5e20 to .9e20, using FSP target control and EF2_by_EF4 control; a
possible Segment 2 starting point is 950329015, with EF2_by_EF4 control added.

3B. Repeat for higher density ramp (NL_04 from 0.8 : 1.5e20)

4B. repeat for highest density ramp (NL_04 from 1.3 : 2.5e20 ? )

Apr 4 1995 07:29:22:830AMSteve WolfeStart with prepared shot pcs$wolfe:050404901.
Import seg 3 from seg 2 of 950331027, to get the EF2_by_Ef4 program on-screen
Flip traces in seg3 and seg4.
In seg1, changed wires 4,5,6,8 to unused; set ref5-8 to "10"
Set Fizzle detector on/off to 0.08, 1.6
Load_into_model @4-Apr-1995 07:16:40.00
Do coldstart 07:20

Apr 4 1995 08:46:52:880AM950404001Steve WolfeShot #950404001
---------------
First try for plasma.

Dud.
We've got a big vertical field and a bug radial field.
COuld one of the coils not have been reversed?
I also get an error on F14 (no finite signal)! It may be ok?

Looks like about a +.002 Br and a -.019 Bz. If it's right, I need
big adjustments.

Apr 4 1995 09:11:45:010AM950404002Steve WolfeShot #950404002
---------------
Make Br more negative by 3mT (.0065 to .0035)
Make IC_EF4 more positive by 150Amps (1180 to 1330)

Fizzle, very late breakdown, around 20msec.
Got the message on F14 again, I think we're in trouble.
Null looks better. Still a bit of Br, and the negative vertical field
isn't coming in early enough.

Apr 4 1995 09:48:37:420AM950404004Steve WolfeShot #950404004
---------------
Ef3 only test to see if F14 is working or not
Its ok, just a bad low order bit on the digitizer.

Apr 4 1995 09:49:34:210AM950404004Steve WolfeShot #950404004
---------------
Ef3 only test to see if F14 is working or not
It looks ok, just a bad low order bit on the digitizer.

Apr 4 1995 10:04:37:290AM950404005Steve WolfeShot #950404005
---------------
Br offset from 3e-3 to 2e-3
Drop IC_OH1 from 16600 to 16100.

Earlier breakdown (12msec)
Radial field looks better, null is more open.

Apr 4 1995 10:14:46:580AM950404006Steve WolfeShot #950404006
---------------
Drop IC_EF4 from 1300 to 1270.
Breakdown later (15msec)
Null looks excellent. Bz may be a little late coming in.

Apr 4 1995 10:21:38:050AM950404007Steve WolfeShot #950404007
---------------
Raise fill to 2.1e-5

Fizzle, bd at 10msec.

Apr 4 1995 10:27:57:440AM950404008Steve WolfeShot #950404008
---------------
Raise fill to 2.5e-5

Fizzle. bd at 10msec, less current. Needs a field tweak.

Apr 4 1995 10:38:13:070AM950404009Steve WolfeShot #950404009
---------------
EF4 from 1270 to 1255

Another fizzle. Bd at .007 s

Apr 4 1995 10:39:04:210AM950404009Steve WolfeShot #950404009
---------------
EF4 from 1270 to 1255

Another fizzle. Bd at .007 s

Apr 4 1995 10:48:35:760AM950404010Steve WolfeShot #950404010
---------------
EF4 from 1255 to 1225
Note TF current is set for 103kA, we're getting 97;
it's going to lowtaps at -.03 sec

Fizzle. Still at 7msec

Apr 4 1995 10:56:55:800AM950404011Steve WolfeShot #950404011
---------------
Change RCUR offset from 8000. to 0.

Fizzle. less current.
Bz certainly comes in faster. Now maybe too fast.

Apr 4 1995 11:07:49:560AM950404012Steve WolfeShot #950404012
---------------
Change RCUR offset from 0. to 4000.

Fizzle. Another late breakdown! Didn't change anything before 10msec

Apr 4 1995 11:17:43:200AM950404013Steve WolfeShot #950404013
---------------
Drop EF4 from 1225 to 1200

Fizzle. Breakdown is later, around 15msec.

Apr 4 1995 11:25:49:160AM950404014Steve WolfeShot #950404014
---------------
Put RCUR offset back to 8000, just to see. It turns on at 7.9msec.

Fizzle. BD at 12msec

Apr 4 1995 11:38:39:320AM950404015Steve WolfeShot #950404015
---------------
Put RCUR back to 4000.
Change EF4 from 1200 to 1250.

Fizzle. BD at 10msec (H-alpha)

Apr 4 1995 11:47:55:290AM950404016Steve WolfeShot #950404016
---------------
Put EF4 to 1370 (Joe is insisting we try a very much more positive Bz)

Fizzle BD at 18msec. That was too far.

Apr 4 1995 12:02:25:280PM950404017Steve WolfeShot #950404017
---------------
Put EF4 back to to 1250
V_OH1 20V more negative between 10 and 15 msec.
Drop fill to 2.1e-5

Fizzle, bd at 10msec
Null looks good. Bz now may be too slow?

Apr 4 1995 12:13:12:050PM950404018Steve WolfeShot #950404018
---------------
Delay PG by 3msec.
RCUR offset to 0. from 4000.

Fizzle. BD at 8msec

Apr 4 1995 12:27:56:090PM950404019Steve WolfeShot #950404019
---------------
RCUR offset to 4000. to 2000.
INcrease V_OH1 another 20V more negative between 10 and 15msec,
and another 20 between 15 and 20msec

Fizzle. BD earlier (6.5msec). A tiny bit more current.
It looks better.

Apr 4 1995 12:32:55:120PM950404020Steve WolfeShot #950404020
---------------
Drop fill to 1.8e-5

Didn't help. Very similar

Apr 4 1995 12:44:31:910PM950404021Steve WolfeShot #950404021
---------------
Put another 20V on OH1 between 20 and 30msec

Still fizzling. BD a tiny bit later.

Apr 4 1995 12:54:17:650PM950404022Steve WolfeShot #950404022
---------------
Br from 2e-3 to 3e-3.
EF4 15a more negative (1235)

FIzzle
slightly earlier bd

Apr 4 1995 01:15:54:510PM950404023Steve WolfeShot #950404023
---------------
Br from 3e-3 to 1e-3.

Lasted longer. Got into segment 2, but current stopped at 400kA
Density is weird.
RCUR is thrashing like mad.

Apr 4 1995 01:31:12:930PM950404024Steve WolfeShot #950404024
---------------
RCUR in segment 2 to 2000.
NL04 gain on at 8 at segment switch.

Fizzle got to 40ka and bounced, looks like outside

Apr 4 1995 01:36:34:600PM950404025Steve WolfeShot #950404025
---------------
Raise fill to 2.2e-5

Fizzle. Still bounces

Apr 4 1995 01:49:35:970PM950404026Steve WolfeShot #950404026
---------------
Drop V_OH1 20 v more positive at .015 and .020

Another one.
This one restrikes and almost makes it, gets to nearlu 80kA.

Apr 4 1995 02:07:08:160PM950404027Steve WolfeShot #950404027
---------------
Another 20V more positive on the 15 and 20msec points
Fill to 2.5e-5

Made it longer, but still disrupts early at 500msec
Disrupting all through.

Apr 4 1995 02:14:03:810PM950404028Steve WolfeShot #950404028
---------------
Drop early NL_04 gain and eliminate early point in NL_04 waveform.

Fizzle. Bounces at 25msec.

Apr 4 1995 02:15:00:470PM950404028Steve WolfeShot #950404028
---------------
Drop early NL_04 gain and eliminate early point in NL_04 waveform.

Fizzle. Bounces at 25msec.

Apr 4 1995 02:26:52:200PM950404029Steve WolfeShot #950404029
---------------
Change RCUR offset from 2000 to 1000 in seg 1 & 2
Drop early NL_04 gain and eliminate early point in NL_04 waveform.

Finally, a shot that made it all the way through.
Still has a funny pause in the current at 180msec

Apr 4 1995 02:46:27:210PM950404030Steve WolfeShot #950404030
---------------
Move 375ka point on Ip to 100msec
LOad EF2_by_EF4 and IC_EF4 wires from seg 3

Nice shot. EF2's go to zero early in rampdown though.

Apr 4 1995 02:58:57:810PM950404031Steve WolfeShot #950404031
---------------
Ask for CLEARIN ramping from .005 to .0075
Increase NL_04 to 7e19

Ran ok, we're only getting 630kA. The Ip offset strikes again; we were
asking for 680.
Some unpleasantness at 400msec

Apr 4 1995 03:22:19:130PM950404032Steve WolfeShot #950404032
---------------
Ask for 750kA.
CLEARIN to .009 ramping to .0135
Rcur to .662 from .66
Raise NL_04 to 8e19

Died early at 200msec
No obvious reason; there seems to be Moly problem.

Apr 4 1995 03:31:22:470PM950404033Steve WolfeShot #950404033
---------------
Repeat:
Ask for 750kA.
CLEARIN to .009 ramping to .0135
Rcur to .662 from .66
Raise NL_04 to 8e19

Same thing.

Apr 4 1995 03:45:12:330PM950404034Steve WolfeShot #950404034
---------------
Slow down density ramp and CLEARIN.
This is somewhat weird.

That worked.
Got 700kA that time
Left gap 1.6cm, right gap 2.4 cm

Apr 4 1995 03:58:51:630PM950404035Steve WolfeShot #950404035
---------------
Ask for 900kA to get 850.

Ran through. Got 845kA.
Gaps look good.
Still a burst of halpha around .4sec

Apr 4 1995 04:20:09:680PM950404036Steve WolfeShot #950404036
---------------
Reducxe NL_04 gain to 4
Delay CLEARIN integral gain to .37sec
RF firing at 1 sec

Disrupted at 1.03 sec.
RF tripped out, so I don't know why it disrupted.

Apr 4 1995 04:35:42:290PM950404037Steve WolfeShot #950404037
---------------
Raise Ip by 100ka (ask for 1MA, should get 950kA)

Disrupted at about 1 sec
OH1 current limit was at 20kA and we are reaching it.
Also EF1U is on the voltage rail.

Apr 4 1995 04:51:19:970PM950404038Steve WolfeShot #950404038
---------------
Reduce NL_04 by .1e20
Increase OH1 current limit to 25kA in reverse direction

Disrupted in flattop, at 700msec.

Apr 4 1995 05:13:20:220PM950404039Steve WolfeShot #950404039
---------------
Increase NL_04 to 1.0e20

This one ran through. Slight vertical glitch at the time of the
disruptions on 36 and 37.
Only got to .9e20

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
108:30:41:260AMPlasmaOkno faults
208:56:11:260AMPlasmaOkno faults
309:26:10:610AMPlasmaOkno faults
409:45:01:810AMTestOkef3 only, checking for a bad flux loop
509:56:39:890AMPlasmaOkno faults
610:07:45:040AMPlasmaOkno faults
710:17:36:370AMPlasmaOkno faults
810:24:57:740AMPlasmaOkno faults
910:34:29:460AMPlasmaOkno faults
1010:42:36:590AMPlasmaOkno faults
1110:50:53:370AMPlasmaOkno faults
1211:00:03:130AMPlasmaOkno faults
1311:10:49:550AMPlasmaOkno faults
1411:20:56:500AMPlasmaOkno faults
1511:34:52:030AMPlasmaOkno faults
1611:43:32:900AMPlasmaOkno faults
1711:55:03:490AMPlasmaOkno faults
1812:06:36:870PMPlasmaOkno faults
1912:19:27:320PMPlasmaOkno faults
2012:29:29:810PMPlasmaOkno faults
2112:37:28:880PMPlasmaOkno faults
2212:48:45:970PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
2312:57:13:990PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
2401:24:52:390PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
2501:32:52:420PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
2601:41:03:610PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
2701:52:11:440PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
2802:10:51:950PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
2902:19:12:540PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3002:34:27:560PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3102:52:27:920PMPlasmaOkNo faults.
3203:10:52:070PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3303:25:09:050PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3403:36:32:790PMPlasmaOkNO Faults.
3503:50:37:320PMPlasmaOkno faults
3604:05:33:590PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3704:22:22:610PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3804:39:29:350PMPlasmaOkNo Faults.
3904:52:38:400PMPlasmaOkno faults