• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.383-387
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• 2007

In this paper the design of the discharge cleaning system for KSTAR vacuum vessel is described. We first discuss about the parameters which are related the efficiency of discharge cleaning. The RG(RF-assisted Glow) discharge which has the ignition and sustain pressure lower than those in the case of DC discharge, thus has the higher efficiency of discharge cleaning. So we adopt the RG discharge, in practical design, for KSTAR discharge cleaning system. For uniformity of the cleaning effect, we plan to install two discharge cleaning systems in A- and I-port of the KSTAR vacuum vessel. The designed system will be adapted for the study of the fuel recycling and of the boronization as well as the discharge cleaning of the KSTAR vacuum vessel.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.414-414
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• 2010

KSTAR vacuum vessel has been boronized by carborane ($C_2B_{10}H_{12}$) to reduce various kinds of impurities including carbon and oxygen from the wall, since carborane is solid, non-toxic, non-explosive and is easily evaporated, while diborane ($B_2D_6$) is toxic and explosive. To find the best wall condition for the removal of contaminants before application to KSTAR, various amounts (0.3g, 0.5g, 1g) of carborane are tested in a test chamber, where filament discharge was generated in the mixture of helium and carborane with the same KSTAR target pressure (~ 5 mTorr) from base pressure (${\sim}10^-7\;Torr$). Discharge is performed by a pulse sequence mode with 3 second power on and 5 second power off. Deposited films of a-C/B:H are characterized by ellipsometery, AES and XPS, and are compared with those of KSTAR.

• Vacuum Magazine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2017

Recently, KSTAR, Korea's superconducting fusion energy research and development device, has succeeded in driving the high performance plasma for 70 seconds for the first time in the world. Continuous plasma operation technology is an essential factor for commercialization of fusion energy power generation. Therefore, this achievement is expected to play a major role in the research of fusion technology required for future fusion power plants. In order to operate the KSTAR, the discharge process in which the neutral gas is turned into the plasma should be preceded in the start-up (breakdown) phase of tokamak operation. This process essentially involves the vacuum environment in the tokamak device. KSTAR has successfully operated a vacuum pumping system to achieve the target level of the vacuum environment through a high temperature baking operation, a discharge cleaning process and boronization.