Planar Coil Stellarator With Removable Field Shaping Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stellarator designs face challenges with complex three-dimensional coil configurations that complicate the removal, maintenance, and replacement of interior components, leading to increased costs and decreased availability.
Innovation Solution
A stellarator design featuring removable field shaping units and planar encircling coils that allow for the removal and replacement of components without reconfiguring the encircling coils, facilitated by structural scaffolding and mounting elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex three-dimensional electromagnetic coils are used in stellarator designs, then the magnetic field confinement capability is improved, but the ease of removing, maintaining, and replacing interior components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The field shaping coil system is divided into multiple discrete field shaping units that can be independently removed. Each unit is a separate component that can be accessed and maintained without affecting the entire coil system or requiring reconfiguration of encircling coils, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining complex magnetic field geometry and enabling component accessibility.
2Reliability
If non-planar electromagnetic coils with complex 3D curvature are used, then the plasma confinement performance is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex three-dimensional coil system is segmented into multiple planar field shaping units. Each unit consists of planar coils that are simpler to manufacture and install, yet collectively they generate the required complex magnetic field geometry through their arrangement and configuration, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining plasma confinement performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from using complex three-dimensional curved coils to using multiple planar (two-dimensional) coil units. By arranging these planar units in specific three-dimensional configurations, the system achieves the necessary complex magnetic field topology without requiring individually complex three-dimensional coils, thereby simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic coils interlock like chain links, then the magnetic field topology is improved, but the ease of independent removal and replacement of coils deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocked coil structure is segmented into discrete field shaping units that are not mechanically interlocked. Each unit can be independently removed and replaced without affecting adjacent units or requiring reconfiguration of encircling coils, while the magnetic field topology is maintained through the coordinated arrangement and electromagnetic coupling of these separate units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient access and maintenance of components, reducing downtime and costs by allowing components to be removed and replaced without disturbing the encircling coils, thereby improving operational efficiency and economic feasibility.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic fusion devices aim to confine a fusing plasma using magnetic fields
Implementation Method 2
one or more planar shaping coils disposed on a surface of the one or more structural mounting elements
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to stellarators or assemblies including a stellarator including removable and/or replaceable components, such as removable field shaping units and/or removable shaping coils. In some embodiments, the stellarators of the present disclosure include a toroidal sector, which includes one or more removable field shaping units.