Pulsed power supply system of the ASDEX upgrade Tokamak research facility

The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) researches the basic principles for a power plant which - similar to the sun - will produce energy by fusion of light atomic nuclei. The operation of the ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) Tokamak relies on three large flywheel generators. These generators feed the pulsed power supply system for the magnetic confinement (high current) and additional heating (high voltage) of the plasma. 17 high current thyristor converters supply the copper magnet coils that induce the plasma current and provide positioning, shaping and ohmic heating of the plasma. For the heating and current drive of the plasma by neutral beam injection and electron and ion cyclotron resonance frequencies, 28 high voltage modules are available. This article gives an overview of the AUG 580 MVA pulsed power supply system. It presents the challenges to integrate new technologies into an up to 40 year old, grown system and reports on the performance achieved during AUG plasma experiments.