The effects of a poloidally localized bulge at outer midplane are investigated with regards to the stability of ideal MHD peeling-ballooning modes (PBMs) and n = ∞ ballooning modes. The effect of the bulge is that the n = ∞ ballooning mode stability at the bottom of the H-mode pedestal is significantly degraded, while the PBM stability is only slightly affected. The ratio of separatrix to pedestal density at which the n = ∞ ballooning mode limit is reached before the peeling-ballooning limit, decreases with the bulge size. The reduction of the required separatrix density would extend the access to quasi-continuous exhaust (QCE) operating mode without large edge localised modes to a wide range of scrape-off layer conditions. The free boundary equilibrium calculation shows that a bulge required for a significant stability change for a Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production fusion reactor can be achieved with 600 kA current in a midplane shaping coil.
QC 20250603