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Mechanical solutions, construction techniques, infrastructures

+ C. Gessi: mechanical elements for quadrupole RFQ / IFMIF

INFN  designed, developed and built the RFQ (Radio Frequency Quadropole) for the IFMIF (International Fusion Material Irradiation Facility) project: an intense beam of deutons produced by two accelerators hits a liquid lithium target, producing a neutron flux similar to the one in the fusion reactor. Neutrons collide with material samples, producing, in relative short time, a radiation like those that will occur in fusion reactors during their lifecycles.

The project is a part of a broader study on “Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion” in which Italy is rapresented by ENEA and CNR alongside with  INFN.

In sinergy with the mechanical workshop of INFN-Bologna, we built all the components in stainless steel [AISI 316 LN] specific the RFQ (flanges and other details) high energy. The elements were then brazed in the four central copper parts.

All of the small parts required very stringent shape and dimensional tolerances, in the order of 0.01mm.

Once finalized the plant was finally installed in Japan (Rokkasho, Aomori prefecture) and integrated with the commercial parts to create the vacuum inside the RFQ.