Structural Behavior of KSTAR CS Magnet During Plasma Operation

The finite element model of KSTAR central solenoid (CS) magnet has been developed with new smeared orthotropic material properties of CS coils and the effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the magnet structures. The accuracy of structural analysis for assembly and cool-down processes is higher than in previous studies. Electromagnetic analysis was performed to evaluate Lorentz forces of poloidal field (PF) coils during a long pulse discharge. The analyzed structural behavior of the CS magnet was clearly consistent with the measured data and calculated Electromagnetic (EM) forces during the plasma operation. The current of PF4 coil had a significant effect on axial compression and the minimum preloading was maintained at 2.0 MN in the end of plasma. Equivalent EM force can easily predict the axial compression of CS magnet without complicated structural analysis. The study on the structural behavior of CS magnet is expected to provide the optimal combination of PF coil current limits for large plasma current and long pulse discharges.