Blob dynamics in the TORPEX experiment: a multi-code validation
Journal article, 2016
Three-dimensional and two-dimensional seeded blob simulations are performed with five different fluid models, all based on the drift-reduced Braginskii equations, and the numerical results are compared among themselves and validated against experimental measurements provided by the TORPEX device (Fasoli et al 2006 Phys. Plasmas 13 055902). The five models are implemented in four simulation codes, typically used to simulate the plasma dynamics in the tokamak scrape-off layer, namely BOUT++ (Dudson et al 2009 Comput. Phys. Commun. 180 1467), GBS (Ricci et al 2012 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 54 124047), HESEL (Nielsen et al 2015 Phys. Lett. A 379 3097), and TOKAM3X (Tamain et al 2014 Contrib. Plasma Phys. 54 555). Three blobs with different velocities and different stability properties are simulated. The differences observed among the simulation results and the different levels of agreement with experimental measurements are investigated, increasing our confidence in our simulation tools and shedding light on the blob dynamics. The comparisons demonstrate that the radial blob dynamics observed in the three-dimensional simulations is in good agreement with experimental measurements and that, in the present experimental scenario, the two-dimensional model derived under the assumption of ${{k}_{\parallel}}=0$ is able to recover the blob dynamics observed in the three-dimensional simulations. Moreover, it is found that an accurate measurement of the blob temperature is important to perform reliable seeded blob simulations.
Author
F Riva
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
C Colin
Aix Marseille University
J Denis
CEA/DSM/IRFM
Aix Marseille University
L Easy
University of York
Culham Science Centre
I Furno
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
J Madsen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
F Militello
Culham Science Centre
V Naulin
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
A Nielsen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
J Olsen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
John Omotani
Culham Science Centre
J Rasmussen
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
P Ricci
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
E Serre
Aix Marseille University
P Tamain
CEA/DSM/IRFM
C Theiler
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
0741-3335 (ISSN) 1361-6587 (eISSN)
Vol. 58 4 044005-Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Areas of Advance
Energy
Roots
Basic sciences
Subject Categories
Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics
DOI
10.1088/0741-3335/58/4/044005