Research Needs for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences - US Burning ...

Figure 10. Control involves the elements for implementing regulation of a fusion device, active solutions to
accomplish control scenarios and maintain performance, feed-forward and feedback algorithms, and a Plasma
Control System (PCS) for supervisory control. (Figure courtesy of E. Synakowski; for a related article, see
D. Mansfield et al., Phys. Plasmas 3 [1996] 1892.)
CuRREnt StatuS
issues
iteR will require plasma control solutions with higher levels of performance and reliability than
are achieved in present-day devices. however, due to the size and complexity of the iteR device,
both the ability to dynamically measure and control specific attributes of the iteR plasma will be
limited. in addition, its nuclear mission imposes requirements on performance certification far
beyond those of any device yet constructed. although present research programs and presently
operating devices have already produced general solutions for some of the control challenges expected
in iteR, many remain to be solved, for which substantial effort will be required.
control issues for iteR can be categorized as:
• Providing robust, reliable plasma control in burning plasma conditions.
• handling off-normal events and faults in a safe, reliable manner.
• developing model-based control algorithms.
These issues share several common requirements. because iteR must qualify its control performance
well before operational implementation, all control algorithms must be model-based, requiring
development of validated control-level models for design of relevant systems in active control
or detection/response loops. sufficiently detailed simulations and associated models must be
developed to verify both performance and implementation of controllers prior to use. Control algorithm
design approaches and solutions must be created to satisfy the demanding performance
requirements of iteR. in many cases, this will require the development of new mathematics and
algorithmic understanding at the cutting edge of control science. Real-time computational solutions
are required for analysis and interpretation of plasma and plant state (e.g., real-time analysis and
prediction of proximity to stability boundaries) as well as implementation of complex control algorithms.
innovative control actuators and diagnostics will likely need to be developed with ef-
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