ITER Physics-Safety Interface: Models and Assessments

Plasma operation conditions and physics requirements to be used as a basis for safety analysis studies are developed and physics results motivated by safety considerations are presented for the ITER design. Physics guidelines and specifications for enveloping plasma dynamic events for Category I (operational event), Category II (likely event), and Category III (unlikely event) are characterized. Safety related physics areas that are considered are: (i) the effect of plasma on machine and safety (runaway electrons) and (ii) plasma response to ex-vessel LOCA from the first wall, providing a potential passive plasma shutdown due to Be evaporation. Physics models and expressions developed are implemented in a safety analysis code (SAFALY, couples 0-D dynamic plasma model to thermal response of the in-vessel components). Results from SAFALY are presented.