Speaker
Description
Concerns about material activation and degradation due to high radiation environments is a limiting factor for the lifetime of high-power spallation sources. This well-recognized fact has led to increased research efforts in finding the best materials for construction of ESS and understanding what happens with the materials on the atomic scale when exposed to a radiation field. Now that the construction of the European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS) in Sweden is nearing completion and ESS will soon start neutron production, we can look back on the experience gained during cold commissioning of accelerator and target as well as construction of the neutron scattering instruments. We continuously encounter interesting material problems, some of which can be solved best using the ESS internal experts and the in-house chemical and analytical laboratories. The collective expertise of internal personnel at ESS, which was pooled informally in the “Spallation Chemistry Team” shortened the response time for material analysis after material failure and allowed for faster continuation of commissioning. Furthermore, an in-depth exchange between the system owners, who have knowledge of the failing system, and the Spallation Chemistry Team was easily facilitated. It was particularly advantageous that the team understood the facility and the conditions under which ESS will operate better than an outside support lab could have, especially when radiation comes into play. The team has gained a wealth of knowledge that will stay at ESS and could aid in faster trouble shooting during beam on target.
This presentation will show examples of ESS material investigations that were performed to trouble-shoot systems in accelerator and target as well as material analysis to assure quality control of components placed in radiation areas. The examples will range from soft materials such as glue and lubricants to impurities and breaks in metals, as well as water chemistry in the cooling water loops.
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