Manufacturing & welding feasibility study of the high brilliance neutron source tantalum Target

The aim of the High Brilliance Neutron Source (HBS) project is to develop a High-Current Accelerator-driven Neutron Source (HiCANS), which is planned to be built at the Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH. These types of neutron sources are an efficient and cost-effective alternative to existing low- and medium-flux research reactors. Basically, such neutron sources consist of three main parts: the particle accelerator, the Target-Moderator-Reflector unit (TMR) and the neutron scattering instruments. The Target is of particular importance when designing a neutron source. It must withstand enormous heat stress due to the particle-interactions and is exposed to radiation damage. Moreover, it is usually made of materials that are difficult to manufacture, and which require special weld techniques to join the components. The subject of this publication is therefore the manufacturing and welding feasibility study of the HBS Target prototype made of tantalum. It includes a brief description of the chosen microchannel cooling structure and the thermo-mechanical design of the Target. The results of the welding tests and qualification using special joining techniques like explosion welding of bimetal adapters and electron beam welding of tantalum parts are also presented, as well as the quality verification by destructive and non-destructive testing. Finally, a full-scale manufacturing test of the HBS tantalum Target will be presented.