High heat flux actively cooled plasma facing components development, realisation and first results in Tore Supra

The routine operation of the actively cooled toroidal pumped limiter (TPL), capable to sustain up to 10 MW m−2 of nominal convected heat flux, is described. Up to now, the limiter fulfills its objectives in terms of heat exhaust. However, the thermographic monitoring exhibits unexpected behavior of the surface temperature. Particle exhaust control displays a complex pattern, due to the high fraction of the injected deuterium, which remains in the wall. The first experimental results with a full actively cooled wall gives access to ITER relevant information on wall conditioning, hydrogen plasma density and vacuum vessel inventory control, carbon erosion and redeposition and capability of in situ monitoring in a completely actively cooled environment.