Development of multi-platform control and instrumentation communications to increase operational reliability – Application to MAST

Improving the reliability and reducing the maintenance time to give increased availability is a key feature of developing control and instrumentation (C&I) systems relevant to future fusion devices such as DEMO and to fusion power plants. Standardising access to the multiple platforms comprising C&I systems on working plant including software that analyses data is one aspect of achieving this. This has been realised on the MAST neutral beam injection system (MNBI) following an extensive upgrade to the C&I, to improve the operational reliability of the neutral beam plant.