Parametric modeling and design of Stellarator systems

Thea Energy is pioneering a novel stellarator architecture that uses a blend of planar toroidal field coils and a unique array of individually controllable planar shaping coils to generate the complex 3D magnetic fields integral to stellarators. This design employs high-temperature superconductors (HTS) REBCO conductors and retains the benefits of the mature physics basis of stellarators. To verify the physics and engineering models of this magnet system, Thea Energy has initiated a prototyping campaign enabled by parametric modeling and simulations. The campaign includes constructing a half-sized half-field version of an HTS planar shaping coil assembly and the design of two cryostats for coil testing at 20 Kelvin. All small shaping coils have undergone design optimization and have achieved accuracy with <0.1% error in ANSYS simulations. Cryostats and thermal management is simulated in COMSOL to verify performance requirements of selected equipment. Prototyping efforts aim to validate the design, comprehend the mutual interactions among the coils, and test scenarios such as fast-discharge quenching, coil manufacturability, coil-to-coil variance and performance characteristics.