Accelerator
Normal Conducting Linac
Conditioning of the first Drift Tube Linac (DTL) tank continues into its third week. At the same time, plasma conditioning at the ion source as well as beam tests for the first few structures are ongoing.
Preparations for a safety readiness review, required before beam can be sent through DTL1 and land in the faraday cup, are under way. The review is scheduled for 4-5 May, with beam commissioning to start approximately two weeks later.
Cryomodule testing
The next cryomodule subject to serial tests in the test stand bunker, has been connected to the RF system with power tests and cooldown following.
Three modules have been previously tested and two additional units have been delivered from French in-kind partner CEA and are in the queue to enter the test stand bunker.
Target
Target wheel
Tests of the luminescent coating on the Target wheel is under way. The Beam Diagnostics division is performing the tests, taking spectral measurements of the luminescence and quality of the sprayed-on coating using a LED light.
The drive unit and shaft for the Target wheel are subject to tests with integrated control racks in the on-site technical workshop.
The Mock-Up and Test Stand in the Target Transport Hall, is in preparation for a clean room tent structure to be assembled. Handling tests as well as target wheel rotation will be performed in here.
Target shielding
Installation of the outer shielding blocks is in progress in the Monolith connection cell. Three layers – orange, blue and turquoise – will be placed on the top plate covering the port tubes. Right now, the ESS rigging team and the Target installation team are stacking the orange blocks, as well as smaller filler blocks filling up the narrow space between the large blocks and the vessel.
Installation of the intermediate shielding blocks (deep red) were completed for the north-east and south-west section, for proton beam shielding both sides of the vessel. Piping for the proton beam window port block were installed in-between the blocks.
Active Cells
The grapple crane, pre-tested in Sheffield UK in agreement with in-kind partner UKAEA, has been delivered to ESS. Assembly is now taking place on the high bay, in preparation for the lift down to the Active Cell’s corbels later this month.
Experimental Halls
Instrument DREAM
The construction of the experimental cave for DREAM is close to completion. This week, the removable roof blocks were lifted in place.
The control cabin adjacent to the cave is in the final stages of interior works, which will be finished off with suspended ceilings and flooring.
Bunker wall feed-through installations for both ODIN and DREAM are set to start soon. This involves dismantling the neutron shielding wall top block for each beamline and install casing for the neutron guides carrying neutrons from the Target to the instruments.
