Status of the MINERVA cryomodules and associated cryogenic system (MYRRHA phase 1)

Daniel Berkowitz, Gerkotze Bonthuys, Vladimir Dekhtiarov, Ulrich Dorda, Frank Marhauser, Frederic Michel, Francois Bonne, Francois Millet, Jean-Marc Poncet, H Saugnac, Christophe Joly, G Olivier, C Lhomme, Tomas Junquera, Florian Dieudegard, Mohamed-El Amine BENIKEN, Youssra TIJANI, J-P Thermeau

Research outputpeer-review

Abstract

MYRRHA at SCK CEN in Mol/Belgium will be a pre-industrial large-scale Accelerator Driven System for unparalleled research opportunities in spent nuclear fuel, nuclear medicine, and fundamental and applied physics. In 2018 the Belgian government released funding for MYRRHA's first phase, MINERVA, for a staged implementation and operation. It covers the design, construction, and commissioning of the continuous-wave superconducting RF proton linac up to 100 MeV, as well as dedicated user target stations. The MINERVA proton linac will accommodate 30 identical cryomodules to boost the beam energy delivered by the normal-conducting frontend from 16.6 MeV to 100 MeV. Each cryomodule will contain two superconducting RF single-spoke cavities immersed in a superfluid Helium bath at 2 K. The design and architecture of the associated cryogenic system is derived from the stringent linac reliability requirements imposed by the future subcritical nuclear reactor. We present the architecture, design, and development status of the MINERVA cryomodules and associated cryogenic system towards the implementation phase of the project as part of a collaboration between ACS, CEA/DSBT, IJCLab, and SCK CEN. We also provide an overview of the initial outcomes of cryogenic and RF tests for the prototype MINERVA cryomodule, which are still ongoing at IJCLab.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication IOP Conference Series
Subtitle of host publicationMaterials Science and Engineering
PublisherIOP Publishing
Number of pages9
Volume1301
Edition2024
ISBN (Electronic)1757-899X
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event2023 - CEC/ICMC: 25th joint Cryogenic Engineering Conference and International Cryogenic Materials Conference - Hawai’i Convention Center, Honolulu
Duration: 9 Jul 202313 Jul 2023
https://www.cec-icmc.org/2023/

Publication series

Name IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Volume1301
ISSN (Electronic)1757-899X

Conference

Conference2023 - CEC/ICMC
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu
Period2023-07-092023-07-13
Internet address

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