Controls for Discharges at ASDEX

Gregor Neu, G. Raupp, W. Treutterer, D. Zasche, T. Zehetbauer
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Plasmaphysik Association, Germany
R. Cole, K. Lueddecke, Unlimited Computer Systems


ASDEX Upgrade is equipped with a fully digital control environment. Parametrized by the physicist's discharge programme, an embedded cluster of real time computers accesses sensors and actuators via its peripheral i/o system to execute the scheduled discharges. The control environment is constantly evolving: extension and optimization of control tasks parallel to experimental progress demand continuous modification of algorithms or sensor and actuator characteristics. Independently, preprogrammed discharge parameters are frequently altered to adapt to specific discharge goals. This procedure, however, bears the risk of incompatibilities between discharge programme and control system software and hardware, resulting in performance degradation or even machine damage.

The paper will present a method to solve the problem: Information on installed processes and hardware components is extracted from the control system. This information is used to parametrize a model which contains the rules and criteria needed to decide whether a discharge programme is suited for the actual system configuration.