EAST NEWSLETTER

EAST Marches into its Second Phase 

　  The ribbon-cutting ceremony for EAST auxiliary heating system project was held on November 29, signifying EAST tokamak has entered into a new upstage stage of “Phase-II”. CAS vice president Zhan Wenlong together with leaders from central government departments, CAS, collaborating institutes and the project S&T committee members witnessed this memorable moment. 
 
　  Supported by National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the project consists of a 6MW/4.6GHz low hybrid current drive system and a 4MW, 50-80keV long pulse neutral beam injection system with the goal to enhance EAST plasma performance and parameters. It is scheduled to be constructed, installed and operated in next four years. 

　  At the ceremony, Vice President Zhan announced the official appointment of the project management groups. Vice President Zhan heads the leading team; Academician Yu Changxuan chairs the S&T committee; Profs Li Jiangang, Wan Baonian and Zhang Xiaodong shoulder the responsibilities of general manager, chief engineer and chief technician respectively. Zhan stated that EAST construction, an applaudable accomplishment in fusion community, is just a “first step in its scientific program”; as an advanced experimental device, EAST undertakes important scientific missions; it’s necessary to upgrade the device, especially its auxiliary heating power. He hoped EAST could make more achievements and contributions by using this system. 

　  Actually ASIPP started its EAST auxiliary heating system R&D about a year before the official inauguration, the project is progressing rapidly and smoothly. The current status and schedule of EAST auxiliary heating system is as follows: 

　  4.6GHz/6MW LHCD system 

　  The construction of 4.6GHz/6MW LHCD system will be accomplished completely in the middle of 2013. By the end of 2011, all of the design and the fabrication of a series of prototype devices have been finished; all the prototype devices have passed the test of full power. All the components of RF source, monitoring and control, high voltage power supply and cooling system are ready, the manufacture of transmission line and launcher are going on well, and the assembly of each subsystem will begin in the middle of 2012.

　  Task leader: Prof Fukun Liu, tel: +86-551-5591609, email: fkliu@ipp.ac.cn

　  4MW, 50-80keV long pulse NBI

　  Up to now, ASIPP has manufactured and tested its first positive ion source, vacuum chamber and cryogenic system, power supply and control system. With cooperation from GA, NIFS, JAEA, BINP, ASDEX, KIT et al, the NBI team has optimized the physical design of EAST-NBI. At present, their main task is to carry out ion beam extraction experiments and optimize the performances of all sub-systems. According to the plan, all components will be constructed, preliminarily tested and optimized in 2012. Further performance test will be carried out in the first half of 2013 before it is transferred to EAST in the second half of 2013. In 2014 NBI will become a reliable heating subsystem of EAST. 

　  Task leader: Prof Chundong Hu, tell: +86-551-5593146, email: cdhu@ipp.ac.cn