Optimization and performance of a high-speed plasma position digital control system

This paper addresses optimization of a high-speed digital feedback controller for a plasma position in Damavand tokamak. Damavand tokamak discharges have plasma currents up to 40 kA with discharge duration greater than 15 ms and toroidal magnetic fields up to 1.2 T. The plasma position is measured using saddle-loops and Rogowski coil and is controlled by electromagnetic forces generated by passing currents through control coils placed around the plasma. A desired control objective is maintaining the plasma in the center of vacuum vessel and to stabilize the plasma in the presence of disturbances in a time domain of the order of few milliseconds. In order to achieve maximum performance it is essential to optimize the control system. In this paper plasma position measurement and the details of implementing high-speed PID controllers based on a TMS320c25 digital signal processor along with the system optimization are presented.