Complete 3D MHD simulations of the current quench phase of ITER mitigated disruptions

Abstract

Complete 3D simulations of the current quench phase of ITER disruptions are key to predict asymmetric forces acting into the ITER wall. We present for the first time such simulations for ITER mitigated disruptions at realistic Lundquist numbers. For these strongly mitigated disruptions, we find that the edge safety factor remains above 2 and the maximal integral horizontal forces remain below 1 MN. The maximal integral vertical force is found to be 13 MN and arises in a time scale given by the resistive wall time as expected from theoretical considerations. In this respect, the vertical force arises after the plasma current has completely decayed, showing the importance of continuing the simulations also in the absence of plasma current. We conclude that the horizontal wall force rotation is not a concern for these strongly mitigated disruptions in ITER, since when the wall forces form, there are no remaining sources of rotation.

to be submitted to Nuclear Fusion

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Confinement of passing and trapped runaway electrons in the simulation of an ITER current quench
• Runaway dynamics in disruptions with current relaxation
• Axisymmetric predictions for mitigated and vertically unstable disruptions in ITER with runaway electrons
• The impact of fusion-born alpha particles on runaway electron dynamics in ITER disruptions