Systems code studies on the optimization of design parameters for a pulsed DEMO tokamak reactor

Abstract

In the European strategy towards fusion power, a demonstration tokamak fusion reactor (DEMO) is foreseen as the next single step between ITER and a power plant. The current baseline concept is a tokamak reactor with net electrical output power of Pel∼500MW and plasma pulse duration of tpulse∼2h. Systems codes are commonly used in the design process as numerical tools for optimization studies. The key performance data of the reactor such as Pel and tpulse are depending on a variety of design and plasma parameters. In the application of systems codes within this multi-dimensional parameter space, a clear quantitative understanding of the most suitable optimization criteria has to be developed, and various physics and technology limits should be obeyed to obtain meaningful results.In this work we use a fusion reactor systems code to perform parameter variations for a pulsed DEMO tokamak reactor. Various output quantities are presented as a basis for the quantitative assessment of the numerical results, and options for a further development of the current DEMO baseline design are proposed and briefly discussed.