Using APCS for plasma vertical control at TCV

Early Tokamaks with circular cross-section plasmas were intrinsically vertically stable and no problems were reported on the control of the vertical position. However, the new concept of vertically elongated plasma cross-section with benefits to the energy confinement time led to vertical instabilities. Such instabilities can only be overcome by means of a complex closed feedback loop control system with a vertical position measurement, signal processing, control algorithm, power supplies and active actuating coils. © 2010 IEEE