Massive Gas Injection Valve Development for NSTX-U

NSTX-U research will offer new insights by studying gas assimilation efficiencies for massive gas injection (MGI) from different poloidal locations using identical gas injection systems. In support of this activity, an electromagnetic MGI valve has been built and tested. The valve operates by repelling two conductive disks due to eddy currents induced on them by a rapidly changing magnetic field created by a pancake disk solenoid positioned beneath the circular disk attached to a piston. The current is driven in opposite directions in the two solenoids, which creates a canceling torque when the valve is operated in an ambient magnetic field, as would be required in a tokamak installation. The valve does not use ferromagnetic materials. Results from the operation of the valve, including tests conducted in 1-T external magnetic fields, are described. The pressure rise in the test chamber is measured directly using a fast time response Baratron gauge. At a plenum pressure of just 1.38 MPa (~200 psig), the valve injects 27 Pa·m
³
(~200 torr · L) of nitrogen with a pressure rise time of 3 ms.