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.
- 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.
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