Design modification of ITER equatorial EC launcher for electron cyclotron heating and current drive optimization

Takahashi, Koji; Abe, Ganji; Kajiwara, Ken; Oda, Yasuhisa; Isozaki, Masami; Ikeda, Ryosuke; Sakamoto, Keishi; 2 of others*

The recent physics analysis reveals that there is the potential to more than double the drive current at the range of = 0.40.6 if a beam steering direction can be modified from toroidal to poloidal. However, the change of steering direction has a significant impact on the design of the Equatorial EC Launcher (EL), especially, mm-wave propagation and blanket shield modules (BSMs) and a knock-on effect impacting the internal shield structure. The EL has three sets of mm-wave beam row and each is composed of eight waveguide lines and a quasi-optical transmission region that is formed a steering and fixed mirror, locating in front of the waveguide outlet. It has been successfully performed that the outstanding configuration of the mirrors is developed, the mirror actuator is changed from the push-pull to pneumatic concept and the modification of the internal shield structure is minimized as much as possible. This creative modification ensures that both mm-wave beams from the middle and bottom row pass through the same BSM opening and then, the feasible and reliable design of BSMs can be carried out. The nuclear analysis of this design modification shows that the residual dose rate at the launcher back end is reduced by 20%. This paper summarizes that the possible solution of the mm-wave design modification enhancing the off axis current drive functionality is developed and ensures the effective mm-wave propagation, feasible design of the EL BSMs and nuclear shield structure.