A model for electrical fast transient analyses of the ITER NBI power supplies and the MAMuG accelerator

The design of ITER Neutral Beam Injector (NBI) is based on a five-stage electrostatic accelerator, known as Multi-Aperture Multi-Grid (MAMuG) and characterised by an overall acceleration voltage of −1 MV. The MAMuG accelerator requires a five-stage power supply system under strict load protection requirements, being subjected in operation to breakdowns. In this paper a circuit model of ITER Neutral Beam Injector power supplies and MAMuG accelerator is illustrated, for the simulation of fast transients related to accelerator breakdowns in particular. Consideration of the high voltage involved and of the complex inductive and capacitive couplings implied careful assessment of stray parameters by calculations with finite element techniques. The circuit model, developed to address a number of design issues requiring simulations at system level, is now ready for use—the optimisation of passive protections being the most significant application.