Numerical Modeling of the Quench Propagation Phase in the JT-60SA TF Coils

In the framework of the European-Japanese project JT-60SA, the quench tests are performed for each of the 18 NbTi superconducting tokamak toroidal field coils (TFC) in the Cold Test Facility at the CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. While launching these experimental quench tests, the conductor current sharing temperature (T
_cs
) is reached by progressively increasing the inlet helium temperature. The quite complex quench dynamics are then observed due to several coupled physical phenomena influencing the quench propagation. In order to better understand the experimental analyses on coils quench behavior, a numerical model has been used, combining the computation code thermal hydraulic and electric analysis of superconducting cables for the longitudinal quench transient modeling along the cable-in-conduit conductor, and an additional interturn thermal coupling model for transverse heat flux modeling. In this paper, several parametric studies will be done, thanks to simplified numerical simulations in order to identify the predominant physical phenomena driving the JT-60SA TFC quench propagation. The analysis focuses on the linear power impact on the quench initiation, the quench propagation dynamics, and the reverse flow effect.