Description
The start of research operation (SRO) in ITER will explore H-mode operation as well as commission control and protection systems including ELM mitigation systems [1]. For successful commissioning of the ELM mitigation systems, operation in stable ELMy H-mode is required. To inform the development of the plasma control system, fully integrated core, edge, scrape-off layer (SOL), divertor simulations are performed with the JINTRAC suite of codes analysing the access to ELMy H-mode across SRO scenarios. The scenarios studied are 5MA/2.65T and 7.5MA/2.65T deuterium plasma including the L-mode, L-H transition and H-mode ELMy phases. A range of densities are analysed, and deuterium gas puff is used to fuel the plasma to the specified Greenwald density fraction with the potential of adding pellets where gas fuelling is insufficient to provide the required density [2].
Simulations performed so far show that even for the lower current scenario of 5MA a 60% Greenwald density fraction plasma is marginal for pedestal development using 30MW EC assuming that the ITPA 2008 scaling law holds. Heating schemes available during SRO operation consists of 40MW of ECRH and 10 MW ICRH [1]. At the same current a high-density plasma of 80% Greenwald density fraction needs 40MW EC together with additional IC to access a good quality H-mode.