A 2D fluid model of the scrape-off layer (SOL) using adaptive unstructuredfinite volumes

Recent advances in the development of adaptive grid methods for the 2D flui d simulation of tokamak edge plasmas are presented. Based on previous exper iences on the solution of scalar model problems using both finite elements (FE) and finite volumes (FV), the first extension of the technique to a sim plified version of the full system of Braginskii equations is presented her e. The performances of adaptive grid technique are discussed and compared t o the traditional fixed meshes on model problems representing a steady-stat e detachment and a transient evolution. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Scie nce B.V.