Active-control systems are playing increasingly important roles within magnetic confinement fusion programs. The growing demand for RF power applications on small and large machines demonstrates a clear need for the hardware, software, and electronic components of real-time control. These components must be implemented with a moderate amount of effort in a cost-effective fashion. This project is aimed at developing a control-suite of modular units that can be unified into active-control packages for RF heating power deposition applications. During Phase I, the feasibility of the control concept will be established by (1) the development of fundamental modules needed to implement open-loop active-control and (2) the demonstration of their use in an RF power deposition experiment.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Beyond the application to fusion energy systems, the modular control-suite has the potential to serve a broad range of scientific and industrial applications.
