Real Time Plasma Disruptions Detection in JET Implemented With the ITMS Platform Using FPGA Based IDAQ

Abstract

The use of FPGAs in data acquisition cards for processing purposes allows an efficient real time

pattern recognition algorithm implementation. Using 13 JETs database waveforms an algorithm

for detecting incoming plasma disruptions has been implemented. This algorithm is written in

MATLAB using floating point representation. In this work we show the methodology used to implement

the real time version of the algorithm using Intelligent Data Acquisition Cards (IDAQ), DAQ devices

with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for local processing. This methodology is based on the

translation of the MATLAB code to LabVIEW and the final coding of specific pieces of code in

LabVIEW for FPGA in fixed point format. The whole system for evaluating the Real Time Disruption

Detection (RTDD) has been implemented using the Intelligent Test and Measurement System (ITMS)

platform. ITMS offers distributed data acquisition, distribution and real time processing capabilities

with advanced, but easy to use, software tools that simplify application development and system

setup. The RTDD implementation uses a standard PXI/PXIe architecture. Two 8 channel analog output

cards play JETs database signals, two 8 channel DAQ with FPGA acquire signals and computes a

feature vector based in FFT analysis. Finally the vector acquired is used by the system CPU to execute

a pattern recognition algorithm to estimate an incoming disruption.