Novel SOLPS-ITER simulations of X-point target and snowflake divertors

The design and understanding of alternative divertor configurations may be crucial for achieving acceptable steady-state heat and particle material loads for magnetic confinement fusion reactors. Multiple X-point alternative divertor geometries such as snowflakes and X-point targets have great potential in reducing power loads, but have not yet been simulated widely in codes with kinetic neutrals. This paper discusses recent changes made to the SOLPS-ITER code to allow for the simulation of X-point target and low-field side snowflake divertor geometries. Snowflake simulations using this method are presented, in addition to the first SOLPS-ITER simulation of the X-point target. Analysis of these results show reasonable consistency with the simple modelling and theoretical predictions, supporting the validity of the methodology implemented.

磁约束聚变反应堆要实现可接受的稳态热与粒子材料载荷，替代偏滤器构型的设计与研究至关重要。诸如雪花偏滤器、X点靶偏滤器等多类X点型替代偏滤器几何构型，在降低功率负载方面极具潜力，但目前尚未在搭载动力学中性粒子模拟模块的数值程序中得到广泛模拟。本文探讨了对SOLPS-ITER代码的近期改进，使其能够支持X点靶偏滤器与低场侧雪花偏滤器几何构型的模拟。本文展示了采用该改进方法完成的雪花偏滤器模拟结果，同时还呈现了首个基于SOLPS-ITER的X点靶偏滤器模拟案例。对上述结果的分析表明，其与简化建模及理论预测结果具有合理的一致性，验证了所采用方法的有效性。