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Experiments were performed during the first divertor operational phase (OP1.2a) of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator to verify predictions of potential overload conditions corresponding to certain high-power long-pulse OP2 scenarios. A potential solution to this overload is the installation of new divertor components called scraper elements, which are designed to intercept heat flux that would otherwise be incident on low-rated divertor edges. Heat flux measurements were obtained in a series of magnetic configurations designed to mimic the magnetic topology evolution caused by net toroidal current and beta, which is not directly accessible in OP1.2a. The experimental flux patterns are qualitatively reproduced in position and magnitude for by field line diffusion simulations using ad hoc cross-field diffusivities near the value used to design the scraper element. However, some important differences are observed, including a shift towards the pumping gap and low-rated components. Potential sources of discrepancy such as toroidal current evolution and error fields are discussed. A shift in the experimental heat flux pattern due to increasing toroidal current is observed in a 12 s discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first campaign Wendelstein 7-X was operated with five poloidal graphite limiters installed stellarator symmetrically. In an ideal situation the power losses would be equally distributed between the limiters. The limiter shape was designed to smoothly distribute the heat flux over two strike lines. Vertically the strike lines are not uniform because of different connection lengths. In this paper it is demonstrated both numerically and experimentally that the heat flux distribution can be significantly changed by non-resonant perturbation field of the order of . Numerical studies are performed with field line tracing. In experiments perturbation fields are excited with five error field trim coils. The limiters are diagnosed with infrared cameras, neutral gas pressure gauges, thermocouples and spectroscopic diagnostics. Experimental results are qualitatively consistent with the simulations. With a suitable choice of the phase and amplitude of the perturbation a more symmetric plasma-limiter interaction can be potentially achieved. These results are also of interest for the later W7-X divertor operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]