Speaker
Description
The development of reliable numerical tools for electromagnetic (EM) analysis is a key requirement for the design and operation of magnetic confinement fusion devices and associated power supply systems. Within the NEFERTARI project, advanced modeling strategies are being developed to address complex EM phenomena occurring both in large conductive structures surrounding the plasma and in high-voltage direct current gas-insulated systems (HVDC-GIS) used in fusion-related power infrastructures.
The first part addresses the modeling of eddy currents induced in passive conductive structures of fusion machines. The adopted framework is based on an Integral Equation Method (IEM) with a mixed volume–surface formulation, enabling the simultaneous treatment of thick conductors with volumetric elements and thin structures with surface elements. To enable the simulation of large-scale devices, advanced hierarchical matrix (H-matrix) approaches, have been considered in conjunction with Model Order Reduction (MOR) techniques. Projection-based reduced-order models are constructed offline and allow rapid evaluation of induced currents and electromagnetic quantities during transient events. These reduced models are particularly attractive for fast scenario analysis and for the development of digital-twin frameworks aimed at monitoring electromagnetic loads and structural responses in fusion devices.
The second part of the work focuses on EM modeling challenges in HVDC-GIS used in power supplies for NBI. In fusion environments, radiation fields can modify the dielectric properties of insulating gases through radiation-induced conductivity (RIC), affecting electric field distributions and promoting surface charge accumulation at gas–solid interfaces. Advanced electro-quasi-static models coupled with charge transport formulations are investigated to capture these effects and assess their impact on insulation performance.