Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
From IRBY@CMOD2.PFC.MIT.EDU Tue May 7 17:48:41 1996
From: IRBY@CMOD2.PFC.MIT.EDU
Organization: MIT
Subject: Alcator C-MOD Weekly Highlights

Alcator C-MOD Weekly Highlights
May 7, 1996

The spring maintenance period continues. Work last week focused
on the RF, divertor, cryopump, and magnet cooling systems.
Nine out of ten outer divertor modules have been removed from the
vessel and are being inspected, cleaned, partially disassembled, and readied
for modification. An insert will be welded into the outer divertor support
plate to improve the shear strength of the divertor mother bolts a factor
of three to four. This change will allow plasma currents of over 1.5 MA
to be achieved without damage to the outer divertor. The last divertor
module which contains the outer divertor probe array is now being removed.
Work continues on several other systems. Transmitter interconnect
cables delivered from PPPL have been shortened and installed. Mechanical work
on the RF PLC control rack is complete and wiring has begun. The east
diagnostics stand extension is complete and is now ready for the relocation
of diagnostic and control racks. The ECE and McPherson experiments have been
moved back from the machine so that modifications to the pumping station
can be made, and transfer lines for the cryopump installed. The four new
TF cooling control valves have been installed along with new larger diameter
manifolds. PLC software changes to control the new valves are under
development.
The prototype cryopump has been leak checked, instrumented, and
successfully cooled down to LHe temperatures. The PLC hardware and
software for monitoring the pump operation is also up and running. Automatic
control of the cooldown via the PLC will be possible as soon as we
receive new cryogenic control valves (due this week).
Darren Garnier and Ying Wang successfully defended their theses last
week. Darren's thesis title was "Lithium Pellet Injection Experiments on the
Alcator C-Mod Tokamak" while Ying's was "A Study of Impurity Screening
in Alcator C-Mod Plasmas".
Martin Greenwald attended the ESnet steering committee meeting at LBNL
(Berkeley, CA) last week.