Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components

A computational fluid dynamics model of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across a gap between misaligned plasma-facing components is validated against data from dedicated leading-edge exposures in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. The macroscopic behavior of the simulated flow in terms of stability and attac...

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Main Authors: L. Vignitchouk, S. Ratynskaia, The ASDEX Upgrade Team
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:Nuclear Fusion
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adc4f7
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author L. Vignitchouk
S. Ratynskaia
The ASDEX Upgrade Team
author_facet L. Vignitchouk
S. Ratynskaia
The ASDEX Upgrade Team
author_sort L. Vignitchouk
collection DOAJ
description A computational fluid dynamics model of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across a gap between misaligned plasma-facing components is validated against data from dedicated leading-edge exposures in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. The macroscopic behavior of the simulated flow in terms of stability and attachment to the underlying solid surface agrees with experimental observations and is consistent with simplified dimensionless criteria based on the balance between fluid inertia and surface tension. Quantitative predictions of the total mass deposited on the downstream side of the gap, along with the characteristic extent of such deposits, are also shown to match the empirical evidence. Furthermore, the accumulation of re-solidified material due to consecutive melt events is found to progressively smooth the gap edge, which promotes better overall flow attachment as well as the growth of overhangs whose dimensions can eventually exceed the gap width.
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issn 0029-5515
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series Nuclear Fusion
spelling doaj-art-4d0189ecc8ce4e44b135d1e09b4541bc2025-08-20T02:26:10ZengIOP PublishingNuclear Fusion0029-55152025-01-0165505601310.1088/1741-4326/adc4f7Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing componentsL. Vignitchouk0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7796-1887S. Ratynskaia1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6712-3625The ASDEX Upgrade Team2Space and Plasma Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm, SwedenSpace and Plasma Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm, SwedenSpace and Plasma Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology , Stockholm, SwedenA computational fluid dynamics model of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across a gap between misaligned plasma-facing components is validated against data from dedicated leading-edge exposures in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak. The macroscopic behavior of the simulated flow in terms of stability and attachment to the underlying solid surface agrees with experimental observations and is consistent with simplified dimensionless criteria based on the balance between fluid inertia and surface tension. Quantitative predictions of the total mass deposited on the downstream side of the gap, along with the characteristic extent of such deposits, are also shown to match the empirical evidence. Furthermore, the accumulation of re-solidified material due to consecutive melt events is found to progressively smooth the gap edge, which promotes better overall flow attachment as well as the growth of overhangs whose dimensions can eventually exceed the gap width.https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adc4f7melt dynamicsgap bridgingleading-edge melting
spellingShingle L. Vignitchouk
S. Ratynskaia
The ASDEX Upgrade Team
Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
Nuclear Fusion
melt dynamics
gap bridging
leading-edge melting
title Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
title_full Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
title_fullStr Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
title_full_unstemmed Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
title_short Simulations of ELM-induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma-facing components
title_sort simulations of elm induced tungsten melt flow across misaligned plasma facing components
topic melt dynamics
gap bridging
leading-edge melting
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/adc4f7
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