Korean R&D on the converter controller for ITER AC/DC converters

Abstract

The ITER coil power supplies provide controlled DC current to charge and stabilize the current in a toroidal field (TF) coil, and to establish and control the currents in a central solenoid (CS) module, poloidal field (PF) coils, and correction coils (CC) for the position and shape control of plasma. They consist of different types of AC/DC converters to meet the various operating requirements. The controller design for ITER AC/DC converters is based on the plant control design handbook as an ITER design guideline. There are basically three networks such as CODAC (COntrol, Data Access and Communication) network, central interlock network, central safety network for ITER instrumentation and control. Korean Domestic Agency has been being performing converter R&D to establish the technical basis for the procurement package of ITER AC/DC converter. The R&D on converter controller is under progress to implement a real time control and monitoring, interlock for equipment protection and emergency shutdown, personnel safety. The dynamic control algorithm to realize a fast response with high fidelity, high speed real time control, communication hardware and configuration are key issues. ITER converters are simulated by small-scaled test bed for AC/DC converters controlled by a CODAC simulator using a cPCI (compactPCI), a fast controller using a cPCI, a Plant System Host and a Siemens S7-300 PLC. The small-scaled test bed has an embedded controller based on digital signal processing and field-programmable gate array technology. This paper shows the detail description of the test bed and test results of the real time control and monitoring, sequential control, circulating current mode, etc.