EVALUATION OF THE ELECTROFORMING TECHNIQUE FOR IFMIF-EVEDA BEAM DUMP MANUFACTURING

Abstract

The IFMIF-EVEDA beam dump must be able to stop deuteron continuous and pulsed beams with energies up to 9 MeV. The maximum beam power is 1.12 MW corresponding to a beam current of 125 mA. The design is based on a copper cone 2500 mm long, 300 mm aperture diameter, 5-6.5 mm thickness, whose inner surface faces the beam. The cooling is provided by water flowing at high velocity along its outer surface. Electroforming of copper on an aluminum mandrel has been considered the most suitable manufacturing technology. Nevertheless some issues must be addressed before the final decision is taken. The joint of the flange at the aperture and the possibility of manufacturing different parts subsequently joining them by electroforming is analyzed by carrying out tensile tests with specimens with and without joints. Mechanical properties and chemical composition are studied. The radiological impact of the measured impurities due to their activation under the deuteron flux is also assessed. The comparison of the properties obtained with the different manufacturing possibilities will allow choosing the most adequate one.