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4w ago

SPARC Fusion System Optimized with Six-Valve Cooling Configuration

Advanced simulations using the M3D-C1 code identified six gas valves as the optimal setup for cooling plasma and mitigating disruptions in the SPARC fusion system.

Rapid plasma cooling via this system is essential to prevent damage from instabilities in fusion devices' extreme heat.
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Overview

  • Researchers determined that six gas valves, arranged with three on the top and three on the bottom, provide the most effective cooling and disruption mitigation for SPARC.
  • The M3D-C1 computer code, developed by PPPL, enabled highly accurate simulations with a novel non-equidistant meshing approach for precise modeling near gas valves.
  • The findings directly influenced SPARC's current design, which now incorporates the six-valve configuration to ensure operational stability.
  • This study represents the most comprehensive disruption simulations conducted to date, advancing strategies to protect fusion vessels from damage caused by plasma instability.
  • The research highlights the role of public-private collaboration, supported by the INFUSE program and DOE grants, in accelerating progress toward fusion systems capable of generating power for the electrical grid.