An approach to explore the eddy currents of the new type divertor for EAST device using ANSYS code

Abstract

An effective method for eddy current calculation has been developed for EAST’s new divertor by using ANSYS. A 3D model of a double null divertor for the EAST device was built to evaluate eddy currents and electromagnetic (EM) forces on these components. The main input to the model is the plasma current and poloidal field coil currents, which are loaded into the model using experimental data measured from the EAST discharges. These currents generate magnetic fields that match those producing an EAST discharge, and the time variation of these fields produces the eddy currents in the divertors, along with from the resulting EM forces. In addition, the first 10 time steps were discussed for the eddy current generation and changing trend. It indicates that a static analysis before a transient mode start can solve the eddy current origination in the initial time steps. With this method, the EM transient response of EAST’s new divertor can be predicted based on ANSYS simulations. Furthermore, the method is also an effective approach to estimate the EM results for the in-vessel components of a fusion reactor during a disruption.