M.Phil. (Energy Studies) / SAFARI-1 is a 20 MW research reactor, which is over 45 years old, and is expected to reach the end of its operating life between 2020 and 2030. The aim of this work is to investigate various alternative conceptual core layouts of the SAFARI-1 reactor in order to facilitate more e ective utilization of the reactor, while potentially expanding its operating lifetime. The spatial and energy neutron distribution is one of the most signi cant parameters in the characterization of such an alternative core layout. This neutron distribution is a result of basic physics processes such as particle matter interactions, nuclear reactions, material properties, e ects of temperature and the time evolution of the system. This study focuses on the steady-state neutron distribution within the highly heterogeneous and complex geometry of the reactor core for the various alternative core layouts. This work has searched for and found a di erent inhomogeneous neutron distribution within the core, arising from a di erent core layout, which can nonetheless still achieve e ciency in the operation for various design purposes, but with a lower power output. Via numerical analysis with the OSCAR-4 code system, the safety and utilization requirements for the SAFARI-1 reactor are evaluated and quantied in terms of its steady-state neutron ux distribution. A SAFARI-1 reference core, obtained via an equilibrium cycle calculation, was used to generate a set of safety and utilization targets against which alternative designs may be measured. Alternative core layouts were developed by using a parametric study to scope the size and power level of potential candidate conceptual cores with the aim of minimizing the power level while adhering to the safety requirements. Utilization parameters of interest include isotope production capability, thermal ux levels in beam tubes and production levels in the silicon doping facility...

In this thesis a model for saturated tearing mode islands is developed. The equations for the mode amplitudes are essentially those of R B White et al,after a pertubation expansion has been made. It is well known that these equations are not then analytic at the mode rational surface. In our model this problem is overcome when a suitable choice of the axisymmetric current density perturbation is added to the unperturbed equilibrium current density profile. The modelled axisymmetric current density perturbation flattens the unperturbed profile locally at the rational surface and is sufficient to induce an island. No modelling in the interior of the island is necessary. The axisymmetric perturbation has a free variable which adjusts the amount of local flattening. However, when the boundary conditions are taken into account, this free parameter is determined, and the problem becomes an eigenvalue problem. The boundary condition thus determines the amount of local flattening at the rational surface. The saturated island widths are determined using D.' (W) criterion. The model allows for non axsymmetric plasma surface in a simple way, requiring careful choice of D (W). The different criteria are compared to establish the validity of the use of such criteria for perturbed boundaries. In the cylindrical approximation, one or two modes may be included in the model. In the case of two modes, non-linear coupling via the current density profile is introduced. Toroidal coupling between modes can also be simply introduced. Two modes that are toroidally coupled are considered, but mode-mode coupling is ignored. The emphasis falls in large part on the boundary conditions. Various boundary conditions can be considered because distortion of the plasma surface can be fixed by wall effects, plasma rotation, external DC coil currents, plasma rotation with external coil currents, etc. Of particular interest is the case of toroidally coupled modes, coupled in turn to these external conditions as this is the first study of such a nature. Results flowing from the study include among others that: for the special case of circular boundaries the model agrees reasonably with the results of R B White et al. No significant difference was found between the D. I (W) criterion of P H Rutherford, which is valid for circular boundaries, and that of A H Reiman, which is also valid for perturbed boundaries, when the boundary is perturbed significantly. Toroidally coupled islands do not increase in size if the boundary condition of that particular mode is not changed. If a coil current of particular helicity is switched on, it will only affect the mode of that particular helicity. Toroidally induced sideband islands have approximately the same width as natural tearing islands when the size of the natural island is large. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

The turbulence and fluctuation induced transport in the edge plasma of the Tokoloshe tokamak was studied using a Langmuir probe array. In this thesis three separate experiments are presented, each of which examines a particular aspect of the edge plasma. In the first experiment measurements of edge plasma parameters are presented. These include standard parameters (such as Ne, Op , Te, etc.) as well as features such as the velocity shear, T(t) during periods of both high and low Mirnov activity, Te/Te and Q. These are compared with results from other machines as well as predictions of several turbulence theories. It was found that many of the results are very similar to those obtained on other machines and that, since the operating parameter space on Tokoloshe is well within the parameter space described by drift wave theories, resistivity-driven gradient driven turbulence theories do not describe the edge turbulence. In the second experiment external windings are used to produce fields which can slow and lock magnetic islands in the toroidally rotating plasma. Edge parameters are again presented and these results compared with those from the so-called 'reference' plasmas, i.e. ones in which no locking occurred. During locking some parameters are dramatically altered, e.g.Te/Te Standard transport theory ignores the effect of Te/Te since they are usually small in reference discharges. During the locked phase, however, certain measurements used to deduce T and Q are greatly affected by increases in Te/Te. As a result, certain assumptions regarding these measurements are no longer valid. Comparison of results for different island positions (produced by different coils) indicates that the assumption of poloidal and toroidal symmetry of edge conditions is invalid. The third experiment investigates the high frequency (~60 kHz), low amplitude, magnetic oscillation which characterises the locked phase and which exhibits some small degree of correlation with the fluctuations observed on (e.g.) Of'. Since over 80% of the spectral power of Te/Te lies below 70 kHz and since Of /Te depends strongly on Te/Te , it is suggested that the magnetic mode and these large variations in Te, may be due to a similar physical process. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, 1993.