Tokamak à configuration variable
The Tokamak à configuration variable is a Swiss research fusion reactor of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Its distinguishing feature over other tokamaks is that its torus section is three times higher than wide. This allows studying several shapes of plasmas, which is particularly relevant since the shape of the plasma has links to the performance of the reactor. The TCV was set up in November 1992.Characteristics
- Plasma height: 1.40 metres
- Minor radius: 0.25 metre
- Major radius: 0.88 metre
- Plasma current: 1.2 megaamperes
- Plasma life span: 2 seconds maximum
- Toroidal magnetic field: 1.43 teslas
- Additional heating power: 4.5 megawatts
Main studies
- Confinement studies
- * confinement as a function of the shape of the plasma
- * Improvement of the confinement of the core
- Studies on vertically elongated plasmas
- Studies with ECRH and ECCD
By 2012 it had 16 poloidal plasma shaping coils and could achieve a variety of field configurations and plasma shapes.History
- 1976: First proposal for an elongated tokamak by the "New Swiss Association"
- 1985: Second proposal, with a more elongated tokamak
- 1986: Acceptance of the TCV proposal
- 1992: First plasma discharge
- 1997: World record of plasma elongation
- by August 2015 it has had a 19-month shutdown/upgrade to install its first neutral beam injector.
- by 2016 it was upgraded/enhanced to run with a 'snowflake' divertor
