Optimization of COMPASS-U Support Structure

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science 2022-11, Vol.50 (11), p.1-6
• Main Authors: Fang, J., Sestak, D., Ficker, O., Titus, P., Vondracek, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Coils; Compass Upgrade (COMPASS-U); fasteners; Forgings; Frames; load modeling; magnetic cores; Manufacturability; Optimization; sliding joint; support structure; Tokamak devices; tokamaks; toroidal field (TF) coil
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/TPS.2022.3218542

The global support structure for Compass Upgrade (COMPASS-U) employs many bolted and pinned components to improve the manufacturability of the whole structures. This is a departure from other designs used for highly loaded tokamaks, like Alcator C-Mod which used large forgings. Modeling of the numerous connections and interfaces was a challenge. This article will describe how to optimize the C-frame support structure with the goal to eliminate differential displacements at those interfaces and, importantly, minimize toroidal mutual displacement at the sliding joint of the toroidal field (TF) coils. The global support structure consists of 16 C-frames, and it can be simplified as a 1/8th cyclic symmetry model due to the eight vertical rods mounting that connect bottom CS and PF1-3 assemblies to the C-frames. Structure variants with different connection webs between two neighboring C-frames have been analyzed. The preloading of bolts can be split into several preload substeps to simulate the real assembly process of the COMPASS-U support structure. The TF crown and the wedge plate can be further improved to become a solid part to better hold the TF coils.