Validation of an EcosimPro® model for the assessment of two heat load smoothing strategies in the HELIOS experiment

• We modeled using EcosimPro software the HELIOS test facility with a simple thermodynamic approach.
• Two scenarios of heat load smoothing strategy are studied: using the bath outlet valve or the cold circulator of the loop.
• Simulations are compared against experimental data.
• Model is validated and assumptions are justified.

HELIOS experiment, installed at CEA Grenoble, is a scaled down helium loop for investigating high pulsed loads on superconducting magnet cooling circuits of Tokamak. Heat loads have to be smoothed down in order to ensure refrigerator stability. A real time simulation is of interest for reproducing the thermohydraulic phenomenon observed experimentally. The modelling work has been carried out with EcosimPro simulation software combined with a specific cryogenic library. Existing components were modified with additional features, particularly for taking into account 1D fluid transport. The model comprises a closed loop with forced flow supercritical helium at 4.4 K and 5 bar connected through heat exchangers to a saturated helium bath at 1.1 bar. The new heat load mitigation strategies presented in this paper are based on two kinds of regulations in order to smooth the helium mass flow retuning to the refrigerator. First strategy uses the bath as a thermal buffer by acting on bath outlet control valve. Second one uses the variation of the circulator speed to induce a delay in the arrival of the heat loads into the helium bath. The model with the two controls is validated against comparisons with experimental data.