Cleanroom Assembly of the LIPAc Cryomodule

Abstract

International audienceIn complement to the development activities for fusion reactors (JT-60SA & ITER), Fusion for Energy contributes to the R&D for material characterisation facilities. LIPAc is the technical demonstrator for the production and acceleration of a D⁺ beam that will be used for neutron production by nuclear stripping reaction on a liquid Li target. Since its first beam in 2014, the LIPAc construction and commissioning continues and will be concluded with the cryomodule installation, aiming for beam validation at nominal power. The cryomodule assembly, started in March 2019, was paused due to welding issues on the solenoid bellows. The slow pumping group used for the cleanroom assembly also needed improvement to overcome helium contamination. Two and half years were devoted to the pumping improvement and, repair, cold tests and high pressure rinsing of the solenoids. In August 2022, the cleanroom assembly resumed with the mounting of all power couplers to the SRF cavities. Despite good progress, the assembly had to be paused again to fix leaks on different vacuum components and a solenoid BPM port. This paper presents the issues faced and their solutions along the cold mass assembly