REFRIGERATION METHOD AND APPARATUS WITH A PULSATING LOAD

摘要

A method for the pulsating load refrigeration of a component (1) of a tokamak (11), said method using a refrigeration device (2) subjecting a working fluid such as helium to a working cycle (3), the tokamak (11) comprising at least one operating mode called "periodic and symmetrical," according to the method, the refrigerating power produced by the refrigeration device (2) being increased to a relatively high level when the tokamak (11) is in a plasma generating phase (Dp) whereas the refrigerating power produced by the refrigeration device (2) is reduced to a relatively low level when the tokamak (11) is no longer in a plasma generating phase (Dnp), characterized in that during the "periodic and symmetrical" operating phase of the tokamak (11), the refrigerating power of the refrigeration device (2) is regulated according to a forced variation also of the "periodic and symmetrical" type, that is one wherein the respective durations of generation of a high level of refrigeration and of generation of a low level of refrigerating power differ at most by 30%, and in that the variation in refrigerating power brings about gradual increases and reductions in refrigerating power, and in that the increase in refrigerating power produced by the refrigeration device (2) is triggered in advance, in response to a signal (S) generated during a plasma starting step in the tokamak (11), that is before the thermal load on the component (1) increases.