Current status and future prospects of the JT-60U control system

The JT-60U control system, composed of a UNIX-based workstation and a VME-bus system, has been successfully performing advanced plasma control for the JT-60U plasma discharges. Various hardware modifications and advanced plasma control algorithms have been continuously integrated into the JT-60U control system since its upgrade in 1991. The ZENKEI, the supervisory control system, has been entirely converted from its original 16-bit minicomputers and CAMAC system to the combination of a workstation and VME-bus system linked through an Ethernet network. The plasma equilibrium control system utilizes a full VME-bus system composed of three DEC alpha CPU modules that are currently running at control cycle times of 250 μs. The parameters for plasma equilibrium control are calculated by a newly developed real-time plasma shape calculation and reconstruction system. These parameters are fed to the plasma equilibrium control system synchronized by 250-μs clock pulses. To progress toward the advanced plasma control concept, which includes adoption of a global plasma parameter control algorithm and suppression of MHD instabilities, improvements were extensively consolidated into the plasma control system (PCS). Currently, additional modifications of the JT-60U control system have extended the pulse duration of the discharge without a major change in JT-60 equipment.