Engineering design of the EURISOL multi-MW spallation target

The European Isotope Separation On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam project (EURISOL) is set to design the 'next-generation' European Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facility. It will extend and amplify current research on nuclear physics, nuclear astrophysics and fundamental interactions beyond the year 2010. In EURISOL, four target stations are foreseen, three direct targets of approximately 100 kW of beam power and one multi-MW target assembly, all driven by a high-power particle accelerator. In this high power target station, high-intensity RIBs of neutron-rich isotopes will be obtained by inducing fission in several actinide targets surrounding a liquid metal spallation neutron source. This article summarises the work carried out within Task 2 of the EURISOL Design Study, with special attention to the coupled neutronics of the mercury proton-to-neutron converter and the fission targets. The overall performance of the facility, which will sustain fast neutron fluxes of the order of 1014 n/cm2/s, is evaluated, together with the production of radionuclides in the actinide targets, showing that the targeted 1015 fissions/s can be achieved. Some of the greatest challenges in the design of high power spallation sources are the high power densities, entailing large structural stresses, and the heat removal, requiring detailed thermo-hydraulic calculations. The use of a thin martensitic steel beam-window and a well-controlled mercury flow has been shown to reduce the von-Misses stress in the former below the 200 MPa limit, with reasonable maximum flow rates of ~6 m/s. Alternatively, a windowless target configuration has been proposed, based on a liquid mercury transverse film. With this design, higher power densities and fission rates may be achieved, avoiding the technical difficulties related to the beam window. Experimentally, several tests have been performed at IPUL (Riga, Latvia) in order to study the stability of the liquid metal flow and validate the mercury loop design

Magnetic field, temperature and velocity distribution measurements in an electromagnetic induction pump using a small ferrite core coil system

International audienceIn this paper technique of local AC magnetic field, temperature and velocity measurements in the gap between electromagnetic induction pump (EMIP) channel and inductor using a single ferrite core coil is discussed. Described method has several important advantages: high signal/noise ratio due to ferrite core, small size of a sensor, three parameter measurement, non-intrusiveness, low cost etc. However, some significant limitations should be also considered: saturation of ferrite core with relatively low fields and temperature dependence on magnetic permeability characteristic of ferrite material. Finally, this perspective measurement method was tested in University of Latvia (UL) and implemented in measurement system of TESLA-EMP loop in Institute of Physics of University of Latvia (IPUL). Some relevant results of these experiments are presented

A comparison between the chemical behaviour of lead-gold and lead-bismuth eutectics towards 316L stainless steel

Lead-gold eutectic (LGE) has been recently proposed as an alternative target material for high power spallation sources. In order to compare the corrosive properties of LGE to the better-studied eutectic of lead-bismuth (LBE), an isothermal twin-loop made of SS 316L was built and operated at the Institute of Physics of the University of Latvia. We have measured the concentration of steel alloying elements dissolved in both alloys at the end of two test campaigns via ICP-OES. In case of LGE, a pronounced concentration increase of Fe, Ni, Mn and Cr is found in the liquid metal, which is significantly higher compared to LBE. Similar results were obtained during complementary investigations on material samples exposed to both alloys in this twin-loop at 400 ◦C and 450 ◦C. These findings indicate that in contact with LGE, SS 316L steel suffers from substantial chemical attack. Detailed investigations using structure materials other than SS 316L have to be undertaken before qualifying LGE as a serious alternative to LB

EURISOL-DS METEX: Operation Manual for the METEX1-Exeriment in IPUL

Within the EURISOL DS project of the 6th Framework Program the METEX1 experiment will be carried out in the Hg-loop at IPUL to test the target mockup developed and built by PSI. The tests should demonstrate the feasibility of such a target to cope with the hydraulic conditions required to manage a 4 MW proton beam. The flow conditions have been extensively modeled by CFD calculations and the experiment serves to validate such calculations. The mockup has been built at PSI applying strict quality rules with respect to conformance of design, inspection of welds. The mockup has been pressure tested at 12.5 bar prior to shipment.The Hg loop has been modified by IPUL to comply with the test requirements (see [1]). The necessary quality checks have been carried out in the February of 2008 at a pressure of 7 bar.The endeavor is a joint undertaking of the Task 2 partners CERN, IPUL and PSI

Model experiments using slag during CdO recovery

A new method of production of cadmium from shredded cadmium-containing batteries using electroslag remelting was proposed, investigated theoretically and experimentally. The reduction of cadmium from cadmium oxide with carbon occurs in electroslag remelting equipment in a liquid slag bath. The resulting molten cadmium is collected in a crucible under a layer of molten flux. The intensity of the reduction process is affected by the liquid flux movement. This movement is caused by thermal convection and also by the electrical current interacting with the magnetic field. The work explores the possibility of intensifying the process using the external magnetic field. Magnetic fields are induced by different configurations of permanent magnet systems located outside the bath

MHD instability analysis of a large scale electromagnetic pump for pemdyn facility.

International audienceThis paper focuses on numerical and experimental investigation of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability which can occur in an electromagnetic induction pump (EMIP) in regimes when slip Magnetic Reynolds number (Rms) is sufficiently high. It has been reported that MHD instability produces strong non-homogeneity of flow, low frequency pressure pulsations, vibrations and drop of developed pressure therefore it should be regarded as highly unwanted phenomenon. Detailed studies of this problem must be carried out to develop better understanding about working regimes and master control of EMIP

Engineering design and construction of a function Hg – loop & Contribution of IPUL in windowless Hg-target feasibility studies

Within EURISOL – DS, a liquid metal /LM/ spallation target with a power of several Megawatt is designed to provide neutrons to a fission target. The target station that allows the full intensity of a 4 MW proton beam to be used for RIB production will require new advanced technology. It is a critical component of EURISOL.For a power density above 103 MW/m3 the windowless, free-surface, molten LM-jet is proposed as a target since it avoids the very serious lifetime – shortening damage caused by the power proton beam in any syste