The MEGAPIE-TEST Project

The goals of the MEGAPIE initiative are to design, build and operate a 1MW heavy liquid metal target. The first step towards the realization of the MEGAPIE target was the feasibility studies, which outlined the entire project. Contextually to the feasibility studies the conceptual design phase started with the establishment of R&D working groups assisting the design and validation of both the target and its ancillary systems. In this framework the EU project MEGAPIE-TEST has been structured in three work packages with tasks concerning the finalization of the engineering design, the components and subsystem testing, the integral test and the first irradiation period. The MEGAPIE-TEST consortium is composed by the 14 partners: FZK, PSI, CEA, ENEA, SCK-CEN, CNRS /IDFE, IN2P3, LMPGM, EMN, ISMRA, UNIV-NANTES, U-PSUDXI, USTL. Currently the engineering design of the target has been finalized, its manufacturing has been launched and the design activities on the ancillary systems were almost completed. R&D activities in the fields of materials, thermal – hydraulics, structural mechanics, neutronic and nuclear assessment and liquid metal technologies were performed in order to assist specific design issues. Some Subsystem and component tests were also performed and the preparation of the integral test is an ongoing activity

Engineering validation for lithium target facility of the IFMIF under IFMIF/EVEDA project

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF), presently in the Engineering Validation and Engineering Design Activities (EVEDA) phase was started from 2007 under the frame of the Broader Approach (BA) agreement. In the activities, a prototype Li loop with the world's highest flow rate of 3000L/min was constructed in 2010, and it succeeded in generating a 100mm wide and 25mm thick with a free-surface lithium flow along a concave back plate steadily at a high-speed of 15m/s at 250°C for 1300h. In the demonstration operation it was needed to develop the Li flowing measurement system with precious resolution less than 0.1mm, and a new wave height measuring method which is laser-probe method was developed for measurements of the 3D geometry of the liquid Li target surface. Using the device, the stability of the variation in the Li flowing thickness which is required in the IFMIF specification was ±1mm or less as the liquid Li target, and the result was satisfied with it and the feasibility of the long-term stable liquid Li flow was also verified. The results of the other engineering validation tests such as lithium purification tests of lithium target facility have also been evaluated and summarized

Tensile tests on MANET II steel in circulating Pb-Bi eutectic

Off-beam tensile test have been performed on MANET II steel in eutectic Pb-55.5Bi (LBE) and Ar during commissioning of the LiSoR loop, an experimental liquid metal loop, which was developed to investigate the influence of Pb-Bi on possible structural materials under static load and irradiationn. Test temperatures were 180 - 300 °C. MANET II (11% CrMoVNb steel) exhibits good swelling and creep resistance behaviour under irradiationn up to around 500 °C. Good corrosion resistance of this material is expected due to the asence of the element Ni in the steel matrix which has a high solubility in LBE. All specimens showed a ductile fracture in Ar. In LBE a loss of ductility was observed at the test temperature of 250 and 300 °C in comparison to Ar samples. SEM analysis of the fracture surface of these specimens revealed a mixed mode, i.e. dimple and brittle fracture and penetration of Pb-Bi along the grain boundaries, which is a typical finding for liquid metal embrittlement

Untersuchungen zur Rolle der Plastizitaet bei der Spannungsrisskorrosion in FeCrNi-Einkristallen

SIGLEDEGerman