Speaker
Description
The construction of the IFMIF-DONES facility in Escúzar (Granada) must be accompanied by the qualification at CIEMAT of a facility capable of handling and analyzing structural and functional materials irradiated with neutrons.
Since these irradiated samples can reach very high levels of activity (of the order of tens of TBq), it is imperative to use adequate shielding and security systems to be able to carry out their analysis.
At present, there is no facility in Madrid nor in Spain, equipped to handle material of this level of radioactivity and capable of conducting the required studies. These include mechanical properties and microstructural studies of intensely irradiated material in IFMIF-DONES in the case of structural material and optical and electrical properties in the case of insulators.
The construction of the hot cells facility at CIEMAT will allow this center to enter the list of European facilities that will benefit directly from the scientific results derived from the operation of the IFMIF-DONES accelerator in Spain.
Being the site of the neutron source for the study of fusion materials, it is essential to have the capacity for Spanish science to benefit directly from the study of irradiated material.
The probable site at Ciemat has already been determined and a detailed study of the condition of the building is underway.
Progress is also being made on the design of the required hot cells incorporating all the technological advances for the efficient and safe processing of activated samples.
This includes designs in terms of shielding, safety procedures and protocols, and the necessary instrumentation for structural (steel) and functional (insulation) material analysis.
This work will present the current status and future goals of the facility.
