Accelerator
The first part of the accelerator, the Normal Conducting Linac, was handed over to ESS accelerator operations on May 11. This means all infrastructure, shielding and personnel protective systems are in place, and conditioning of the Radio-Frequency Quadropole (RFQ) and, subsequently, beam commissioning can follow.
Target
The steel structure for the Target cantilever roof is now in place and is currently subject to cladding with aluminium lamellae. In total, 2592 panels – each holding three aluminum elements – will be mounted onto the structure. Approximately one-third of the lamellae is already in place.
Cladding of the building facades is also ongoing, while in the Target entrance building, where you will find the ESS main control room, internal finishes are in progress, which includes floor treatment, painting and installations.
Experimental Halls
In Experimental Hall 1 and 2 adjacent to the Target Building, floor treatment, mounting of walkways and sound absorbers are ongoing. On the Monolith footprint installation of the neutron shielding bunker is underway.
The first delivery - a crate containing the Neutron Beam Optics Assembly (NBOA) - for LoKI, a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instrument, has arrived on site. Installations and construction of an instrument cave for LoKI, is planned to start inside Experimental Hall 2 in June.
Labs
In the D08 lab building, supporting Experimental Hall 1, all floors have been equipped with epoxy and painting is ongoing. On the top floor glass walls and door frameworks are installed for an office area. ESS have installed fume hoods, as part of an early access agreement with Skanska.
Waste Treatment Facility
All construction work for the Waste Treatment Facility, which will be used to treat, store and handle intermediate to low level radioactive waste produced during ESS operations, are completed. An external office area has been connected to the main building via a in-situ-built sluice.
All installed systems, including electrical installations, fire alarm and Control & Monitoring, are subject to final testing. Handover from construction partner Skanska to ESS is scheduled for August.
