Instrumented fast valve for the ITER DMS support laboratory test bench

Abstract

The ITER Disruption Mitigation System (DMS) Support Laboratory at the Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, Hungary aims at the characterization of the de-sublimation, acceleration and shattering of the cryogenic pellets, which will be fired upon request into the ITER plasma to mitigate the detrimental consequences of disruptions. The test bench includes a fast-acting valve for pellet acceleration, which releases high-pressure gas on a millisecond time scale. The valve is a new development since no valve on the market existed which would have met the requirements. The electromechanical modelling of the valve actuator has been validated against a laboratory experiment, the final system was built and thoroughly tested on a test bench to characterize the valve properties, and to demonstrate that the system fulfils the requirements.