A New Simulation Framework Based on the Kepler and Scicos Open-Source Software for the Design and Qualification of Tokamak Control Algorithms: First Test Case Results

Plasma control is recognized to be a crucial issue for the achievement of ITER objectives. One of the most challenging tasks for the preparation of the ITER operation will therefore be the design and qualification of a variety of control algorithms. This highlights the need for a simulation platform capable of supporting the design, integration and test of advanced control algorithms on complex physics models. With this aim, a generic multi-purpose "flight" simulator (GMFS) is being developed at IRFM (Institut de Recherche sur la Fusion par confinement Magnetique), CEA Cadarache, France. The GMFS is based on Kepler, a free interdisciplinary open-source Java software. Kepler will be used as a simulation platform to rest and improve control algorithms before their actual use in the real control system. The physics and engineering codes complementary to the control algorithm. will be supplied by the EFDA Integrated Tokamak Modelling Task Force (ITM-TF). The GMFS will be benchmarked, at the beginning, on the Tore Supra Tokamak. In this paper we will report on a test case suitable to demonstrate the feasibility of a part of GMFS, namely the development of workflows where to create and verb ITER plasma boundary feedback control algorithms. It consists of a) derivation of a linear plasma response model; b) design of a control diagram under the ScicosLab/Scicos open-source software; c) porting of the diagram under Kepler: d) substitution of the Kepler controller with a controller generated by a special Scicos extension; e) substitution of the simplified static linear model with the free-boundary equilibrium code CEDRES++. The test case demonstrated the feasibility of employing Kepler, ScicosLab/Scicos and other expressly-made codes in view of the conception of valuable instruments for the active control of ITER and it can be considered as a first step in this direction.