Integrated modelling of H-mode pedestal and confinement in JET-ILW

• Published in: Plasma physics and controlled fusion Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 14042 - 14050
• Main Authors: Saarelma, S, Challis, C D, Garzotti, L, Frassinetti, L, Maggi, C F, Romanelli, M, Stokes, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Density prediction model; Deuterium; Deuterium-tritium plasmas; Experimental values; Forecasting; Integrated modelling; integration; neutral penetration; pedestal; Plasma simulation; Plasma stability; prediction; Transport modeling; Transport simulation
• ISSN: 0741-3335; 1361-6587; 1361-6587
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/aa8d45

A pedestal prediction model Europed is built on the existing EPED1 model by coupling it with core transport simulation using a Bohm-gyroBohm transport model to self-consistently predict JET-ILW power scan for hybrid plasmas that display weaker power degradation than the IPB98(y, 2) scaling of the energy confinement time. The weak power degradation is reproduced in the coupled core-pedestal simulation. The coupled core-pedestal model is further tested for a 3.0 MA plasma with the highest stored energy achieved in JET-ILW so far, giving a prediction of the stored plasma energy within the error margins of the measured experimental value. A pedestal density prediction model based on the neutral penetration is tested on a JET-ILW database giving a prediction with an average error of 17% from the experimental data when a parameter taking into account the fuelling rate is added into the model. However the model fails to reproduce the power dependence of the pedestal density implying missing transport physics in the model. The future JET-ILW deuterium campaign with increased heating power is predicted to reach plasma energy of 11 MJ, which would correspond to 11-13 MW of fusion power in equivalent deuterium-tritium plasma but with isotope effects on pedestal stability and core transport ignored.