Systematic design of a multi-input multi-output controller by model-based decoupling: a demonstration on TCV using multi-species gas injection

In this paper, we present the first results of a systematically designed multi-input multi-output gas-injection controller on TCV. We demonstrate the simultaneous real-time control of the NII emission front position and line-integrated electron density using nitrogen and deuterium gas injection. Injection of nitrogen and/or deuterium affects both the NII emission front position and line-integrated electron density. This interplay between control loops is termed interaction and, when strongly present, makes designing a controller a significantly more complex problem. Interaction between the control loops can be reduced to an acceptable level by redefining inputs, decoupling the multi-input multi-output control problem to separated single-input single-output problems. We demonstrate how to achieve this by defining virtual control inputs from linear combinations of the actuators available. For the demonstration on TCV, linear combinations of deuterium and nitrogen gas injection are computed from transfer-function models to obtain these virtual inputs. The virtual inputs reduce the interaction in the control-relevant frequency range to a point where control of the NII emission front position and line-integrated electron density can be considered decoupled, allowing for the much simpler design of single-input single-output controllers for each loop. Implementing the controllers with the virtual inputs gives the multi-input multi-output gas-injection controller. This approach is well established in the control community, and is presented here as a demonstration to drive developments of multi-input multi-output control strategies. In particular, the envisioned control of particle- and heat fluxes impacting the divertor targets by injection of multiple gas species.