Category: Project Committee

IFMIF/EVEDA Project Committee #31

The 31st Project Committee (PC#31) was held on the 16th and 17th of March 2023 at the QST Rokkasho Fusion Institute. For the first time since the Covid outbreak, all PC members were present onsite. Nonetheless, the open session was broadcasted as during Covid travel limitations, allowing about 20 experts to attend remotely from Japan and Europe.

The first day was dedicated to the project status and outlook with many presentations.

The main topics highlighted since the last PC#30 in October 2022 were the following:

  • The repaired circulator 1B passed the Factory Acceptance Tests at the manufacturer premises;
  • The LIPAc Unit implemented a strategy to enhance the cooling of the O-ring couplers in order to restart Phase B+ operation in a timely manner;
  • The LIPAc Unit worked on improving the management of the spare parts and maintenance;
  • The Fusion Neutron Source (FNS) activities made significant progress both on the Lithium Facility and on the Engineering Design, with the readiness of experimental test benches;
  • The Fusion Neutron Source (FNS) management was improved with many technical exchanges illustrating a strong collaboration between Japan EU-HT and JA-HT.

On the second day, the PC members reviewed and approved the Record of Conclusions acknowledging the progress of the work and the consolidation of the schedule.

RF power couplers presentation and PC members
PC#31 participants both in person and remotely
PC members observe an enhanced cooling o-ring coupler

IFMIF/EVEDA Project Committee #30

20 & 21 October 2022

The 30th Project Committee (PC#30) was held on the 20th and 21st of October 2022 at the QST Rokkasho Fusion Institute. For the first time since the Covid outbreak, it took place not only by video conference, but also in-person, welcoming members and experts from Japan and Europe.

The first day was dedicated to the update of the project status and the outlook for 2023 with many presentations.

The main topics highlighted since last spring’s PC#29 were the following:

  • The injector continuous wave campaign with the 12 mm plasma electrode reached 160 mA extracted current. The requested beam characteristics have not yet reached the requirements and further operation is needed;
  • The continuous wave conditioning of the RFQ was suspended to test the RF power couplers with brazed-window, as well as to improve the design of the O-ring couplers;
  • The SRF Linac assembly started in the Joint Research Building at Rokkasho on 22 August 2022, following the completion of the ultrasonic cleaning and high-pressure rinsing of the superconducting solenoids;
  • The Fusion Neutron Source Design (FNSD) activities made significant progress both on the Lithium Facility and on the Fusion Neutron Sources, with many technical exchanges illustrating a strong collaboration between Japan EU-HT and JA-HT.
RF power couplers presentation and remote PC members
PC#30 participants both in person and remotely

The second day was dedicated to the site tour with the visit of:

  • the accelerator vault (see below picture),
  • the RF area, to have a look at the High-Power Test Bench among many systems,
  • the Joint Research building, to see the progress made in the SRF Linac assembly, and
  • the Central Control Room.

On the afternoon, the PC members reviewed and approved the Record of Conclusion. Hopefully, the next Project Committee, planned on March 16 and 17, 2023, will be only face-to-face.

Site tour – visit of the Accelerator vault by PC members and experts

Project Committee #26

22 & 23 October 2020

The 26th Project Committee (PC#26) was held at Rokkasho IFERC Site on October 22nd and 23rd and by video conference. An update of the project status was presented as well as the outlook for 2021.

The main topics discussed were the progress since the last PC#25 and how the Team has adapted to the constraints imposed by the situation with the Covid-19 outbreak. The following main outcomes were reported:

  • Steady progress for the preparation of the beam commissioning at high duty cycle with a deuteron beam at 5 MeV;
  • Start of the commissioning phase of the individual systems;
  • New features to allow the remote participation access to the LIPAc beam operation.

In the frame of the new phase of the Broader Approach, the resuming of the engineering design activities for the fusion neutron source was presented with objectives for the next 5 years.

Project Committee #24

15 & 16 October 2019

The 24th Project Committee (PC#24) was held at Rokkasho Broader Approach Site on October 15 and 16. The project status and achievements were presented as well as the outlook from phase B+ onward. The main update topics discussed were:

  • RF system improvement
  • Phase B milestone beam perveance record
  • Beam Dump installation resumed
  • Phase B end and the maintenance period start
  • Technical difficulties
  • Next objectives towards continuous wave operation
  • Objectives of High Energy Beam Transport line and Beam Dump validation
  • Long-term improvement actions
  • Preparation of the Medium Energy Beam Transport extension line
  • Status of superconducting solenoids procurement for the SRF Linac Cryomodule
  • Preparatory status for the clean room assembly of the Cryomodule

The action plan for 2020 was presented for installation, maintenance and operation.

Attendees PC#24
  • The PC members near the clean room
  • Inside the RF area

Project Committee #23

18 & 19 March 2019

The 23nd Project Committee (PC#23) was held at Rokkasho IFERC Site on March 18th and 19th, during which an update of the project status was presented as well as the outlook from 2019 onward.

The main topics discussed were the progress since the last PC#22 with the achievement of the annual maintenance campaign, the completion the HEBT and Beam Dump installation in the accelerator line and the resumption of the Beam Operation with proton beam and the first deuteron injection into the RFQ. The preparatory work for the assembly of the Cryomodule in the clean room at Rokkasho was also presented.

Attendees PC#23

The PC members in the LIPAc Control Room participating to the beam operation

Project Committee #22    

15 & 16 October 2018

The 22nd Project Committee was held at Rokkasho IFERC Site on October 15th and 16th, during which an update of the project was presented as well as the outlook from 2019 onward.

The main topics discussed were the progress since the last PC#21 with the first Beam Operation, the imminent resuming of the beam operation throught the RFQ and the preparation for the phase C with the delivery of the High Energy Beam Transport line and its Beam Dump as well as the assembly of the Cryomodule in the clean room at Rokkasho.

Attendees PC#22

The PC members in the LIPAc Control Room

13th Meeting of the IFMIF/EVEDA Project Committee

Rokkasho, Japan, 19-20 March 2014

On 19- 20 March, the 13th Meeting of the IFMIF/EVEDA Project Committee (IFMIF PC-13) was held at the JAEA Rokkasho site.

The meeting was mainly devoted to the review of the updated Project Plan and the Annual Report 2013 for the IFMIF/EVEDA Project, to be submitted to the next Broader Approach Steering Committee (BA SC) for approval.

The IFMIF PC welcomed the relevant results of the investigations carried out with respect to the cavitation phenomena and observed thinning of the stainless steel conduits in the EVEDA Lithium Test Loop Experiments (ELTL), and encouraged JAEA to consider additional experimental time beyond the presently agreed test campaign scheduled termination date. Additional efforts towards the long term operation under vacuum were also deemed advisable to be taken into consideration in the near future.

Good news were also reported with regards the progress of the Linear IFMIF Prototype Accelerator (LIPAc) Installation and Commissioning activities. The IFMIF PC participants had the opportunity to see the advances of the on-site activities being jointly carried out by JAEA, Project Team, and CEA experts. The installation of the Ion Source and Low Energy Beam Transport line is now progressing at full speed moving forward the LIPAcfs 1st Stage Commissioning, which is presently planned to start by summer this year.

The successful NaK filling of the High Flux Test Module (HFTM) has unblocked the related test facilities validation activities, allowing in particular to launch the preparatory work for the BR2 fission reactor irradiation campaign at SCK-CEN (Mol, Belgium).

The next IFMIF/EVEDA Project Committee meeting will be held in Rokkasho (Japan) on 8-9 October 2014.

PC13