A new integrated simulator for experiments of resistive wall mode (RWM) closed-loop control and its benchmark against experimental data are presented. The numerical tool couples in a self-consistent way a full 3D finite element description of the machine boundaries (Cariddi code), a 2D toroidal model of RFP plasma stability (MARS-F code) and a realistic representation of the RFX-mod control system producing an overall dynamic model cast in the state variable space. In this way a full dynamic 'flight simulator' of RWM control experiments has been implemented where the interaction of proportional–integral–derivative controller gains and plasma equilibrium parameters can be explored.As an application of the new integrated tool, closed-loop RWM stability analyses have been benchmarked against experimental data. In this way it was possible to experimentally prove that the control simulator correctly reproduces closed-loop RWM growth rates under different control conditions. Time domain simulations were also run to assess the overall accuracy of the model including the presence of non-linear blocks. The achieved results are discussed in connection with the broader international effort towards an effective control of RWMs in both tokamak and RFP configurations.
Model predictive control of KSTAR equilibrium parameters enabled by TRANSP