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A MINi Powder INjector (MINPIN) for the SMART tokamak
S Abe1, A Luby1,2, A Rodriguez-Gonzalez3
1Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|March 5, 2026
Summary
A new powder injector, MINi Powder INjector (MINPIN), was developed for boronization in the SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak (SMART) fusion device. This system enables controlled boron delivery to reduce plasma impurities and improve performance.
Area of Science:
- Fusion energy research
- Plasma physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Tokamak devices require wall conditioning to minimize plasma impurities.
- Boronization is a key technique for reducing radiation losses and improving plasma stability.
- Existing powder injection systems may lack precise control for specific tokamak geometries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize a novel powder injector for boronization in the SMART tokamak.
- To enable controlled delivery of boron powder for effective wall coating.
- To investigate the impact of boronization on plasma performance in low aspect ratio tokamaks.
Main Methods:
- Development of the MINi Powder INjector (MINPIN) utilizing gravitational delivery and a piezoelectric blade.
- Calibration of the powder drop rate in a laboratory setting (1-10 mg/s).
- Simulation and estimation of operational scenarios for boron injection into the SMART plasma.
Main Results:
- Successful design and laboratory characterization of the MINPIN system.
- Achieved calibrated drop rates suitable for controlled boronization.
- Demonstrated potential for efficient powder ablation and deposition.
Conclusions:
- The MINPIN system is a viable solution for precise boronization in the SMART tokamak.
- Controlled boron delivery can significantly reduce intrinsic impurities, enhancing plasma confinement.
- This technology contributes to advancing fusion energy research through improved plasma-wall interaction management.
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