Systems code studies on the optimization of design parameters for a pulsed DEMO tokamak reactor

Abstract In the European strategy towards fusion power, a demonstration tokamak fusion reactor (DEMO) is foreseen as the next single step between ITER and a power plant. The current baseline concept is a tokamak reactor with net electrical output power of P el  ∼ 500 MW and plasma pulse duration of t pulse  ∼2 h. Systems codes are commonly used in the design process as numerical tools for optimization studies. The key performance data of the reactor such as P el and t pulse are depending on a variety of design and plasma parameters. In the application of systems codes within this multi-dimensional parameter space, a clear quantitative understanding of the most suitable optimization criteria has to be developed, and various physics and technology limits should be obeyed to obtain meaningful results. In this work we use a fusion reactor systems code to perform parameter variations for a pulsed DEMO tokamak reactor. Various output quantities are presented as a basis for the quantitative assessment of the numerical results, and options for a further development of the current DEMO baseline design are proposed and briefly discussed.