Control process structure of ASDEX Upgrade's new Control and Data Acquisition System

ASDEX Upgrade's new distributed real-time Control and Data Acquisition (CODAC) System integrates plasma control and diagnostics with a communication network. On that platform, an infrastructure environment implements methods for control and diagnostic processes to synchronize in cycle operation, exchange information and propagate alarms. In a data-driven operation scheme 10 data are sampled and schedule follow-up processes for signal evaluation, plasma feedback and plasma and machine monitoring. A central process tracks the discharge programme (DP) and issues the reference values governing CODAC. By adding plasma and machine state sensitive algorithms to this process, all reference values can be modified in real-time to optimize the discharge or protect the machine. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.