Scoping studies for NBI launch geometries on DEMO

• NBCD scans are done for beam energies of 1.5 MeV and 1.0 MeV in two DEMO scenarios.
• NBCD scan profiles are fed into genetic algorithm to fit a target current profile.
• The result gives location and power of sources to give best fit to target profile.
• This method can help provide requirements for DEMO beamline geometry.

Engineering and technical constraints on Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) in DEMO may determine the available beam energy and may also strongly impact the Neutral Beam Current Drive (NBCD) efficiency by restricting available beam tangential radii. These latter are determined by factors such as the inter-TF coil spacing, as well as the degree of required shielding. In order to illustrate how these factors may affect the contribution of NBCD on DEMO operating scenarios, scans of NBI tangency radii and elevation on two possible DEMO scenarios have been performed with two beam energies, 1.5 MeV and 1.0 MeV, in order to determine the most favourable options for NBCD efficiency. In addition, a method using a genetic algorithm has been used to seek optimised solutions of NBI source locations and powers to attempt to synthesize a target total plasma driven-current profile. It is found that certain beam trajectories may be proscribed by limitations on shinethrough onto the vessel wall. This may affect the ability of NBCD to extend the duration of a pulse in a scenario where it must complement the induced plasma current. Operating at the lower beam energy reduces the restrictions due to shinethrough and is attractive for technical reasons as it will required less development, but in the scenarios examined here this results in a spatial broadening of the NBCD profile, which may make it more challenging to achieve desired total driven-current profiles.