Assessment of alternative vessel and blanket design on ITER operation

In the framework of the ITER project, an investigation has been conducted on an alternative vessel and blanket design, aimed at reducing cost and production risk. The modifications proposed have a strong impact on plasma control since they affect the main conducting structures surrounding the plasma column, providing passive stabilization but at the same time shielding the field generated by the active coils to control the plasma motion and shape. An extensive analysis was performed to assess the plasma vertical controllability and the modified requirements to the in-vessel vertical stability coils system as well as to the external Poloidal Field coils system. A similar analysis was aimed at assessing the performance of the shape control system in presence of the modified structures. The effect on plasma breakdown was also evaluated in terms of maximum initial loop voltage, quality of magnetic null and the flux loss related to the breakdown delay that was quantified under the same hypothesis employed by ITER for the baseline design. Furthermore, the modified design presents issues for the magnetic diagnostic system, related to the shielding of the probes by the eddy currents, which were analysed with a 3D model. The results of the analyses performed have some general interest in particular regarding the influence on plasma stability of 3D structures with close proximity to the plasma. The present paper aims at giving an overview of the analyses that have been carried out and a summary of the results in terms of impact of the modified design on plasma control and scenario, and in general an evaluation of the role of passive structure in plasma vertical stability and shape control.