Profile Stiffness Research Articles

A 1-D predictive model for energy and particle transport in H-mode

In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the understanding of H-mode plasmas (e.g. ion temperature profile stiffness, pedestal physics, etc). Based on this improved understanding, a set of rules (models) comprising a physics picture of the H-mode has been implemented in the ASTRA code in order to improve the understanding of experimental observations and ultimately to provide a predictive capability for ITER complementary to the scaling relations. The model has been verified for consistency with experimental observations in ASDEX-UG and JET plasmas. Numerical coefficients for the transport, required because of simplifications or missing quantitative information, are determined for one plasma (e.g. from JET) and then held constant for all others (JET, ASDEX-UP, ITER). After benchmarking the model to experimental results, it was also applied to ITER. It predicts that Q = 10 can be achieved in ITER but only with at least a 50% deep fuelling contribution (inside the H-mode pedestal). However, in existing machines as well as in our model runs for existing machines, gas puffing is sufficient to achieve the observed density pedestal and line average densities. A second important result from the predictive runs for ITER is that electron energy transport in the plasma core, the neoclassical transport in the pedestal and the CX losses at the plasma edge are important constraints for a better performance. Thus future theoretical and experimental work should concentrate on these areas in order to improve our predictions.

Comparison of theory based transport models with ASDEX Upgrade data

Heat transport in steady state ASDEX Upgrade discharges is compared with the predictions of four theory based models: the IFS/PPPL, Weiland and GLF23 models, based on ion temperature gradient (ITG) and trapped electron mode physics, and the current diffusive ballooning mode (CDBM) model. The discharges selected provide scans over heating power, density and plasma current, by varying these quantities separately. The ion temperature profiles are found to be stiff, with the same linear relation between the core and edge temperatures for all the scans considered. The ITG based models reproduce this behaviour well qualitatively and quantitatively, while the CDBM model fails to predict profile stiffness. The electron temperature, however, does change shape when the density is lowered. All models reproduce this feature qualitatively. The stored energy is well predicted by the IFS/PPPL and Weiland models. The GLF23 model is less good, showing a clear trend to underpredict the energy at higher temperatures. The predictions made with the CDBM model are rather poor.

Effects of Belt Flexural Rigidity on the Transmission Error of a Carriage-driving System

This paper investigates the effects of belt flexural rigidity and belt tension on transmission error of a carriage-driving system. The beam model associated with both the clamped and moving boundary conditions at two ends is utilized to derive the governing equation of the belt. The belt flexural rigidity is obtained and verified by an experimental technique. In addition, a numerical method is proposed to determine the belt profile, transmission error and transmission stiffness. Results show that transmission error of a carriage-driving system increases when the carriage moves away from the driving pulley due to finite belt flexural rigidity. According to the analyses, application of appropriate tension on the belt can significantly reduce the error. Furthermore, the transmission stiffness for representing the entire rigidity between the carriage and pulley is investigated based on the proposed beam model. A three-dimensional plot that indicates the relationship among the transmission stiffness, belt tension and the position of the carriage is obtained. [S1050-0472(00)01102-8]

Treatment of Myeloproliferative Disorders With Hydroxyurea: Effects on Red Blood Cell Geometry and Deformability

AbstractHydroxyurea (HU) is used in suppressing the bone marrow and producing fetal-like red blood cells (RBCs). These RBCs are large in size and may theoretically disturb the microcirculation. In five patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), the RBC geometry and deformability were analyzed before and after 6 to 8 months of HU treatment. In untreated MPD, the RBC geometry and filterability was normal. After HU, the RBC membrane area increased 24% and the cell volume increased 39% (P < .005). This change resulted in a 12% increase in the minimum cylindrical diameter (MCD). From a static bending model of initial deformation, the RBC diametrical cross-section had a significantly increased section modulus. However, this increase in profile stiffness was compensated for by its larger projected cell area and, thus, pressure load on the RBC corpuscle. The resulting resistance to initial deformation therefore remained unchanged after HU. These findings were tested experimentally; with 3-μm filter membranes, HU treatment caused a significant increase in flow resistance (P < .02), in accordance with MCD. However, with 5-μm pores, no difference was seen, again in consonance with the theoretical findings of initial deformation. Because most capillaries are larger than 3 μm, we suggest that HU is acceptable from a perspective of cellular microrheology.

Treatment of Myeloproliferative Disorders With Hydroxyurea: Effects on Red Blood Cell Geometry and Deformability

Hydroxyurea (HU) is used in suppressing the bone marrow and producing fetal-like red blood cells (RBCs). These RBCs are large in size and may theoretically disturb the microcirculation. In five patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), the RBC geometry and deformability were analyzed before and after 6 to 8 months of HU treatment. In untreated MPD, the RBC geometry and filterability was normal. After HU, the RBC membrane area increased 24% and the cell volume increased 39% (P &lt; .005). This change resulted in a 12% increase in the minimum cylindrical diameter (MCD). From a static bending model of initial deformation, the RBC diametrical cross-section had a significantly increased section modulus. However, this increase in profile stiffness was compensated for by its larger projected cell area and, thus, pressure load on the RBC corpuscle. The resulting resistance to initial deformation therefore remained unchanged after HU. These findings were tested experimentally; with 3-μm filter membranes, HU treatment caused a significant increase in flow resistance (P &lt; .02), in accordance with MCD. However, with 5-μm pores, no difference was seen, again in consonance with the theoretical findings of initial deformation. Because most capillaries are larger than 3 μm, we suggest that HU is acceptable from a perspective of cellular microrheology.