Developing fuel sources for a steady-state multi-purpose pellet launching system

Like for any power plant, refuelling will be one key issue in a future fusion reactor. It has to safe and efficient; due the operational principle, it also needs occur steady state. From previous investigations, became clear that injection of pellets - mm-size solid bodies produced from frozen fuel – is only possible technically realistic solution this task. Beyond their capability fuelling, have been found potentially useful as well other purposes, e.g. control edge localised modes. Therefore, efforts are required develop pellet launching system (PLS) capable meet all basic reactor requirements. To foster kind technology evolution enhance PLS applied at ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), collaborative investigation between IPP ORNL initiated. This aims replace existing source able deliver centrifuge injector up 130 stored batch process with repetition rates 80 Hz by state source. The new based on extruder types delivering either true or least reservoir sufficient produce 2000 pellets. Experiments extruding ice different square cross sections showed maximum throughput about 300 mm3/s Protium (H) 215 Deuterium (D) 1.9 mm section. Ice temperatures 9 K H 16 D were optimum. For D, extrusion correspond delivery rate 25 Hz. Doping 2% Neon was achieved expense moderately reduced speeds. A scheme designed inject parallel multiple sources further enhancing rate.