Design, integration and manufacturing of the MEBT and Dplate support frames for IFMIF LIPAc

Abstract

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) [1] aims to provide an accelerator-based, D-Li neutron source to produce high energy neutrons at sufficient intensity and irradiation volume for DEMO materials qualification. As part of the Broader Approach (BA) agreement between Japan and EURATOM, the goal of the IFMIF/EVEDA project is to work on the engineering design of IFMIF and to validate the main technological challenges which, among a wide diversity of hardware includes the LIPAc (Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator) [2], a 125 mA continuous wave deuteron accelerator up to 9 MeV mainly designed and manufactured in Europe.

The Medium Energy Beam Transport line (MEBT) [3], [4] is in charge of the beam transport at 5 MeV/125 mA and matching beam parameters between two acceleration structures, the RadioFrequency Quadrupole (RFQ) and the Superconducting RF linear accelerator (SRF Linac), while the Diagnostic Plate (DPlate) [5] is a movable module with a set of diagnostics and instrumentations in charge of characterizing the beam in the different accelerator commissioning stages (RFQ commissioning, SRF Linac commissioning) and to provide accelerator operational parameters. Both beamline designs are state of art, being a real engineering (and mechanical) challenge, due to the compactness and alignment requirements from beam dynamics, and the seismic requirements from the accelerator site. An optimized design is critical in order to reduce beam losses and production of radiation at high power beam.

The present paper summarizes the mechanical design and analysis of the MEBT and Diagnostic Plate support frames, as well as their manufacturing solutions and mechanical integration with the components installed both in the MEBT and Diagnostic Plate. The mechanical design and integration show the engineering development, adopted to fulfill the strict structural, seismic and alignment requirements.