The plasma facing component in HL-2A has been damaged seriously after disruption, and for this reason its operation is suspended for maintenance. The experimental phenomena and plasma configurations, calculated by the...The plasma facing component in HL-2A has been damaged seriously after disruption, and for this reason its operation is suspended for maintenance. The experimental phenomena and plasma configurations, calculated by the current filament code （CF-code） using the plasma parameters measured by diagnostics and the signals of the magnetic probes, confirm that the first wall is damaged by the synergetic effects of runaway electrons and disruption induced by a vertical displacement event （VDE）. When the plasma column is displaced upward/downward, the strong runaway electrons normally hit the baffle plate of the MP3 or MP1 coil in the upper and lower divertor during the disruption, causing the baffle plates to be holed and wrinkled by the energetic runaway current, and water （for cooling or heating the baffle plates） to leak into the vacuum vessel. Another disastrous consequence is that bellows underlying the baffle plate and outside the coil of MP3 for connecting two segments of the jacket casing pipe are punctured by arcing. The arc may be part of the halo current that forms a complete circuit. The experimental phenomena are indirect but compelling evidence for the existence of a halo current during the disruption and VDE, though the halo current has not been measured by the diagnostics in the HL-2A tokamak.展开更多
In order to realize on-line real-time measurement of dynamic and time-sharing neutron spectrum of HL-2A,a tokamak fusion neutron spectrometer based on PXI bus was developed.It consists of electronics system and eight ...In order to realize on-line real-time measurement of dynamic and time-sharing neutron spectrum of HL-2A,a tokamak fusion neutron spectrometer based on PXI bus was developed.It consists of electronics system and eight thermal neutron detectors,namely SP9~3He proportional counter,embedded in eight polyethylene spheres in different diameters.Response function of the eight polyethylene spheres was the key to calculate the neutron spectrum accurately.In this paper,response function of the eight polyethylene spheres is simulated by adopting Geant4 code,and neutron counts from an^(241)Am-Be neutron source are measured by the eight detectors.The calculated spectrum of the Am-Be neutron is accurate in 0-2 MeV region,and is similar to the theoretical spectrum.The tokamak fusion neutron spectrometer was used in HL-2A device to monitor the dynamic neutron spectrum of HL-2A on-line and real-time.展开更多
The prototype neutron flux monitor consists of a high purity ^(235)U fission chamber detector and a'blank'detector,which is a fissile material free detector with the same dimension as the fission chamber detec...The prototype neutron flux monitor consists of a high purity ^(235)U fission chamber detector and a'blank'detector,which is a fissile material free detector with the same dimension as the fission chamber detector to identify noise issues such as noise coming from gamma rays.The main parameters of the fission chamber assembly that have been measured in the laboratory are confirmed to approach the technological level of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)in the near future.This prototype neutron flux monitor will be further developed to become a neutron flux monitor suitable for the operation phase of D-D fusion on the ITER.展开更多
During the current flat-top phase of electron cyclotron resonance heating discharges in the HL-2A Tokamak, the behaviour of runaway electrons has been studied by means of hard x-ray detectors and neutron diagnostics. ...During the current flat-top phase of electron cyclotron resonance heating discharges in the HL-2A Tokamak, the behaviour of runaway electrons has been studied by means of hard x-ray detectors and neutron diagnostics. During electron cyclotron resonance heating, it can be found that both hard x-ray radiation intensity and neutron emission flux fall rapidly to a very low level, which suggests that runaway electrons have been suppressed by electron cyclotron resonance heating. From the set of discharges studied in the present experiments, it has also been observed that the efficiency of runaway suppression by electron cyclotron resonance heating was apparently affected by two factors： electroh cyclotron resonance heating power and duration. These results have been analysed by using a test particle model. The decrease of the toroidal electric field due to electron cyclotron resonance heating results in a rapid fall in the runaway electron energy that may lead to a suppression of runaway electrons. During electron cyclotron resonance heating with different powers and durations, the runaway electrons will experience different slowing down processes. These different decay processes are the major cause for influencing the efficiency of runaway suppression. This result is related to the safe operation of the Tokamak and may bring an effective control of runaway electrons.展开更多
Two high performance silicon drift detectors （SDD） are installed at the equatorial port with z = 0 and z = -16.4 cm on HL-2A tokamak, respectively. These SDDs combine with the new and non-conventional software pulse...Two high performance silicon drift detectors （SDD） are installed at the equatorial port with z = 0 and z = -16.4 cm on HL-2A tokamak, respectively. These SDDs combine with the new and non-conventional software pulse height analyser （SPHA ） successfully developed more recently by us to measure the time evolution of soft x-rays spectra, the thermal and superthermal electron temperatures. The high-quality three-dimensional figure of time evolution for soft x-rays energy spectra is easily obtained by combination of a new SPHA and computer. Therefore, the measurement accuracies and the time resolutions of thermal and superthermal electron temperatures are also improved. The enhancement phenomenon of superthermal electron during electron cyclotron resonance heating （ECRH） can be explained by the combination of superthermal electron avalanche theory and experimental parameters.展开更多
Neutron flux monitor （NFM） as an important diagnostic sub-system in ITER （international thermonuclear experimental reactor） provides a global neutron source intensity, fusion power and neutron flux in real time. T...Neutron flux monitor （NFM） as an important diagnostic sub-system in ITER （international thermonuclear experimental reactor） provides a global neutron source intensity, fusion power and neutron flux in real time. Three types of neutron flux monitor assemblies with different sensitivities and shielding materials have been designed. Through MCNP （Mante-Carlo neutral particle transport code） calculations, this extended system of NFM can detect the neutron flux in a range of 10^4 n/（cm^2.s） to 10^14 n/（cm^2.s）. It is capable of providing accurate neutron yield measurements for all operational modes encountered in the ITER experiments including the in-situ calibration. Combining both the counting mode and Campbelling （MSV; Mean Square Voltage） mode in the signal processing units, the requirement of the dynamic range （107） for these NFMs and time resolution （1 ms） can be met. Based on a uncertainty analysis, the estimated absolute measurement accuracies of the total fusion neutron yield can reach the required 10% level in both the early stage of the DD-phase and the DD-phase, the absolute measurement accuracy full power DT operation mode. In the advanced would be better than 20%.展开更多
Real-time Bonner sphere spectrometry（BSS）at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum diagnostic is described.The spectrometer consists of eight different size Bonner spheres made of polyethylene and with a ^3heliu...Real-time Bonner sphere spectrometry（BSS）at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum diagnostic is described.The spectrometer consists of eight different size Bonner spheres made of polyethylene and with a ^3helium-filled detector in the center,pre-amplifiers,and parallelprocessing data acquisition system（DAQ）.Dynamic neutrons from plasma discharges of the HL-2A tokamak were measured and the real-time neutron spectrum was presented.展开更多
Two fission chambers with different amounts of fissile material （enriched 90% uranium-235） have been manufactured for neutron flux detection in a thermonuclear fusion device. The characteristics of neutron signal an...Two fission chambers with different amounts of fissile material （enriched 90% uranium-235） have been manufactured for neutron flux detection in a thermonuclear fusion device. The characteristics of neutron signal and its discrimination from other signals, and a plateau of high voltage between the anode and cathode have been validated in a thermal neutron source. The energy responses of the two fission chambers at seven energy levels have been calibrated in an accelerator fast neutron source and the results agree well with the simulations.展开更多
The extended Bonner sphere spectrometer （EBSS） at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum is described. This device was developed on the basis of previous Bonner sphere spectrometry （BSS）, aiming to obtain a mo...The extended Bonner sphere spectrometer （EBSS） at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum is described. This device was developed on the basis of previous Bonner sphere spectrometry （BSS）, aiming to obtain a more accurate neutron spectrum in the HL-2A tokamak hall. The previous BSS contained eight Bonner spheres （BS）. This EBSS contains 13 3He-filled detectors embedded in polyethylene spheres （PS）, pre-amplifiers, and a parallel processing data acquisition system （DAQ）. A response matrix is simulated in Geant4 taking the effect of the environment into account.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.10775041 and 10675124)
文摘The plasma facing component in HL-2A has been damaged seriously after disruption, and for this reason its operation is suspended for maintenance. The experimental phenomena and plasma configurations, calculated by the current filament code （CF-code） using the plasma parameters measured by diagnostics and the signals of the magnetic probes, confirm that the first wall is damaged by the synergetic effects of runaway electrons and disruption induced by a vertical displacement event （VDE）. When the plasma column is displaced upward/downward, the strong runaway electrons normally hit the baffle plate of the MP3 or MP1 coil in the upper and lower divertor during the disruption, causing the baffle plates to be holed and wrinkled by the energetic runaway current, and water （for cooling or heating the baffle plates） to leak into the vacuum vessel. Another disastrous consequence is that bellows underlying the baffle plate and outside the coil of MP3 for connecting two segments of the jacket casing pipe are punctured by arcing. The arc may be part of the halo current that forms a complete circuit. The experimental phenomena are indirect but compelling evidence for the existence of a halo current during the disruption and VDE, though the halo current has not been measured by the diagnostics in the HL-2A tokamak.
基金Supported by Ministry of science and technology major projects(No.2013GB104003)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11375195)Ministry of Education and Youth Innovation Fund(No.WK2030040037)
文摘In order to realize on-line real-time measurement of dynamic and time-sharing neutron spectrum of HL-2A,a tokamak fusion neutron spectrometer based on PXI bus was developed.It consists of electronics system and eight thermal neutron detectors,namely SP9~3He proportional counter,embedded in eight polyethylene spheres in different diameters.Response function of the eight polyethylene spheres was the key to calculate the neutron spectrum accurately.In this paper,response function of the eight polyethylene spheres is simulated by adopting Geant4 code,and neutron counts from an^(241)Am-Be neutron source are measured by the eight detectors.The calculated spectrum of the Am-Be neutron is accurate in 0-2 MeV region,and is similar to the theoretical spectrum.The tokamak fusion neutron spectrometer was used in HL-2A device to monitor the dynamic neutron spectrum of HL-2A on-line and real-time.
基金The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.10175021)the Retraining Foundation of the Southwestern Institute of Physics for Talented Personnel
文摘The prototype neutron flux monitor consists of a high purity ^(235)U fission chamber detector and a'blank'detector,which is a fissile material free detector with the same dimension as the fission chamber detector to identify noise issues such as noise coming from gamma rays.The main parameters of the fission chamber assembly that have been measured in the laboratory are confirmed to approach the technological level of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)in the near future.This prototype neutron flux monitor will be further developed to become a neutron flux monitor suitable for the operation phase of D-D fusion on the ITER.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 10675124,10775041 and 10775045)
文摘During the current flat-top phase of electron cyclotron resonance heating discharges in the HL-2A Tokamak, the behaviour of runaway electrons has been studied by means of hard x-ray detectors and neutron diagnostics. During electron cyclotron resonance heating, it can be found that both hard x-ray radiation intensity and neutron emission flux fall rapidly to a very low level, which suggests that runaway electrons have been suppressed by electron cyclotron resonance heating. From the set of discharges studied in the present experiments, it has also been observed that the efficiency of runaway suppression by electron cyclotron resonance heating was apparently affected by two factors： electroh cyclotron resonance heating power and duration. These results have been analysed by using a test particle model. The decrease of the toroidal electric field due to electron cyclotron resonance heating results in a rapid fall in the runaway electron energy that may lead to a suppression of runaway electrons. During electron cyclotron resonance heating with different powers and durations, the runaway electrons will experience different slowing down processes. These different decay processes are the major cause for influencing the efficiency of runaway suppression. This result is related to the safe operation of the Tokamak and may bring an effective control of runaway electrons.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 10675124 and 10775041. Authors wish to thank the team of HL-2A operation, the group of ECRH, the group of ECE and the team of experimental data acquirement.
文摘Two high performance silicon drift detectors （SDD） are installed at the equatorial port with z = 0 and z = -16.4 cm on HL-2A tokamak, respectively. These SDDs combine with the new and non-conventional software pulse height analyser （SPHA ） successfully developed more recently by us to measure the time evolution of soft x-rays spectra, the thermal and superthermal electron temperatures. The high-quality three-dimensional figure of time evolution for soft x-rays energy spectra is easily obtained by combination of a new SPHA and computer. Therefore, the measurement accuracies and the time resolutions of thermal and superthermal electron temperatures are also improved. The enhancement phenomenon of superthermal electron during electron cyclotron resonance heating （ECRH） can be explained by the combination of superthermal electron avalanche theory and experimental parameters.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.10175021,10675124)
文摘Neutron flux monitor （NFM） as an important diagnostic sub-system in ITER （international thermonuclear experimental reactor） provides a global neutron source intensity, fusion power and neutron flux in real time. Three types of neutron flux monitor assemblies with different sensitivities and shielding materials have been designed. Through MCNP （Mante-Carlo neutral particle transport code） calculations, this extended system of NFM can detect the neutron flux in a range of 10^4 n/（cm^2.s） to 10^14 n/（cm^2.s）. It is capable of providing accurate neutron yield measurements for all operational modes encountered in the ITER experiments including the in-situ calibration. Combining both the counting mode and Campbelling （MSV; Mean Square Voltage） mode in the signal processing units, the requirement of the dynamic range （107） for these NFMs and time resolution （1 ms） can be met. Based on a uncertainty analysis, the estimated absolute measurement accuracies of the total fusion neutron yield can reach the required 10% level in both the early stage of the DD-phase and the DD-phase, the absolute measurement accuracy full power DT operation mode. In the advanced would be better than 20%.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11375195)the National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China(No.2013GB104003)
文摘Real-time Bonner sphere spectrometry（BSS）at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum diagnostic is described.The spectrometer consists of eight different size Bonner spheres made of polyethylene and with a ^3helium-filled detector in the center,pre-amplifiers,and parallelprocessing data acquisition system（DAQ）.Dynamic neutrons from plasma discharges of the HL-2A tokamak were measured and the real-time neutron spectrum was presented.
基金supported by the National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China(Nos.2008GB109002 and 2012GB101003)
文摘Two fission chambers with different amounts of fissile material （enriched 90% uranium-235） have been manufactured for neutron flux detection in a thermonuclear fusion device. The characteristics of neutron signal and its discrimination from other signals, and a plateau of high voltage between the anode and cathode have been validated in a thermal neutron source. The energy responses of the two fission chambers at seven energy levels have been calibrated in an accelerator fast neutron source and the results agree well with the simulations.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11375195, No. 11575184)the National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Energy Development Research (2013GB104003)
文摘The extended Bonner sphere spectrometer （EBSS） at the HL-2A tokamak for the neutron spectrum is described. This device was developed on the basis of previous Bonner sphere spectrometry （BSS）, aiming to obtain a more accurate neutron spectrum in the HL-2A tokamak hall. The previous BSS contained eight Bonner spheres （BS）. This EBSS contains 13 3He-filled detectors embedded in polyethylene spheres （PS）, pre-amplifiers, and a parallel processing data acquisition system （DAQ）. A response matrix is simulated in Geant4 taking the effect of the environment into account.
