Workshop on Safety at Radioactive Ion Beam facilities

Workshop on Radiation Protection Issues related to Radioactive Ion Beam Facilities

Organized by CERN, Geneva - ISOLDE, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich - MAFF, EURISOL - Target and ion source working group
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ABSTRACT

Concepts for Handling Radioactive Products from a Liquid metal Spallation Target

F. Groeschel, K. Thomsen, Ch. Perret, W. Wagner
Paul-Scherrer-Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland

The MEGAPIE experiment comprises the design and construction of a roughly 1 MW liquid metal target and its operation in the PSI spallation neutron source for up to one year. The 570 MeV proton beam current is expected to be at least 1.4 mA and the total charge deposited during the experiment should exceed 6000 mAh.

The target will contain about 82 l of lead-bismuth eutectic with a melting point of 125°C. During the irradiation process, a large variety of fission and spallation products are formed, which have to be contained and safely handled during and after the experiment in accordance with the Swiss regulations. One characteristic of the Bi-containing targets is the formation of a-emitting Po-isotopes, which imposes special precautions. But other volatiles like Iodines, Mercury and Krypton/Xenon have to be considered taking into account normal operation and potential accident cases.

The contribution will describe the strategy and the systems developed to deal with the volatile and solid radioactive isotopes produced in the target during normal operation, to handle the target after the experiment with respect to PIE and disposal. The measures to comply with potential accidents are also presented.