X-point radiator control and its dynamics in ASDEX Upgrade and JET deuterium–tritium discharges

Control of heat exhaust is essential for the operation of power producing fusion reactors. Here, we present results of heat exhaust feedback control experiments in JET and AUG. In JET, we demonstrate the first X-point radiator (XPR) control in DD and DT discharges using argon seeding. In AUG, we improve the XPR control with nitrogen seeding, resulting in achieving the first detached L-H and H-L transition (in a single discharge). The controllers are designed using a model-based design procedure. The required models are obtained experimentally using perturbative (system identification) experiments. We study the dynamic response of the XPR to various seeding species and varying operating conditions. We find that the sensitivity (relative gain) of the XPR varies as function the height of the radiator inside the confined region but that the relative phase is consistent for all operating points. In AUG, the XPR is also less sensitive to impurity seeding changes for higher heating powers. In JET, we show that the XPR dynamics are the same for DD and DT plasmas. However, we observe that XPR control is only possible with argon and not with neon. The results show that a controller might well be designed in earlier stages of operation of a future device, but remains applicable and can be further tuned for full power operation.