Power Balance Models

A power balance model which combines power consumption and power generation data to assess the net power production of different designs for a tokamak power plant.

This code implements the PyDelica module to interface with Open Modelica models neatly summing together and displaying key results in a web browser. It implements a power balance model to bring together power consumption and power generation data for assessing the net power produced by fusion power plant designs.

DISCLAIMER: Parameter values (particularly the ones in the input toml files) do not represent a suitable design point, and may or may not make physical sense. It is up to the user to verify that all parameters are correct.

Quick Start

It is recommended that Power Balance Models (PBM) be run within a Python virtual environment, you can create one using the pre-installed venv python module:

python -m venv my_venv
source venv/bin/activate

then install PBM using pip over git:

pip install git+https://github.com/ukaea/powerbalance.git

By default the parameters contained within the models have no physical significance, it is recommended that these be modified to match the scenario for analysis. To do this create a new project folder:

powerbalance new my_project

and modify the parameter files within the directory. You can then execute a run using this directory:

powerbalance run --param-dir my_project

Updating

Note, if updating your version of powerbalance it is strongly recommended that you re-generate the model profiles in case changes have been made which affect them:

powerbalance generate-profiles

Acknowledgements

NINI model - This model is based on the in-house UKAEA work of D B King and E Surrey, referred to in the following publication:

Negative ion research at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), R McAdams, A J T Holmes, D B King, E Surrey, I Turner and J Zacks, New Journal of Physics, Volume 18, December 2016, doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/aa4fa1 (R McAdams et al 2016 New J. Phys. 18 125013)

RF (ECCD) model - This model is based on the Masters Thesis of Samuel Stewart:

Modelling of Radio Frequency Heating and Current Drive Systems for Nuclear Fusion, Samuel Stewart, Integrated Engineering BEng Thesis, University of Cardiff, April 2021

Power generation model - the efficiency values used in the power generation model are derived from a separate Excel model produced by UKAEA. This Excel model built on a body of work produced by the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and EGB Engineering for UKAEA:

"UKAEA STEP WP11: FEASIBILITY STUDY OF MODULAR REACTOR DESIGNS (LOT 2): FEASIBILITY OF ADVANCED NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES BALANCE OF PLANT (BOP)"