Plasma control systems relevant to ITER and fusion power plants

Kurihara, Kenichi; Lister, J. B.*; Humphreys, D. A.*; Ferron, J. R.*; Treutterer, W.*; Sartori, F.*; Felton, R.*; Brmond, S.*; Moreau, P.*; JET-EFDA Contributors*

The existing large and medium-size tokamaks are expected to explore more advanced operation scenarios toward the ITER and a future power reactor. To specify one or more solutions to keep a steady-state plasma with high performance, and to avoid plasma instabilities almost completely, a plasma control system for ITER should have two important aspects: Technical inheritance of the currently-working functions, and flexible or adaptive structure. First, we make review on the system configuration and essential functions employed in each plasma control system from the viewpoint of hardware as well as software. Second, we survey ITER control system requirements for the current CODAC design. Third, flexible structure in the plasma control system should be discussed. Finally, on the basis of the above discussion, we would like to envisage a future plasma control system for ITER and a fusion power plant.