Accelerator
Normal Conducting Linac
Conditioning of drift tube linac tank 1 is in progress in the ESS normal conducting linac. Radiofrequency power is fed from the power sources on the Klystron Gallery-side at increasing power levels. Control of the conditioning is now taking place from the new, permanent ESS main control room on the first floor of the Target Entrance building, where parts of the Accelerator Operations team have moved in.
Cryomodule testing
A full test cycle has been completed for the third medium beta cryomodule in line. The next cryomodule (CM04) will be installed inside the test stand bunker shortly. Then, a short maintenance period will follow, before RF power up and cool down start.
Linac Spokes
Welding of header units in-between the cryogenic valve boxes in the spoke section of the linac continues, and will soon be completed. The piping connecting to the end box, where helium used to cool down cavities of the cryomodules will reverse back to the cryo building for cleaning and reuse, was welded this week. Pressure tests will follow in the beginning of April.
Target
Monolith Shielding
109 steel wedges, filling up the gap between the 39 port tubes and NN bar, are now in place.
The first few red blocks for the intermediate shielding have also been lifted down to the Monolith base slab.
All deliveries of outer shielding blocks are completed. There are 147 big blocks and some 40 smaller filler blocks weighting a total 1500 tonnes.
Target wheel
The Target wheel, coated with a luminescent powder, is currently stored in a box inside Experimental Hall 3. Screening of the coating, using a laser, will follow. The mock-up and test stand (MUTS) inside the Target Transport Hall will be prepared and covered with a protective tent, for handling tests to follow in here.
The Target wheel drive unit and shaft have been assembled in the ESS on-site Technical Workshop. Once energised, tests with power and data racks will follow.
Experimental Halls
NSS bunker
Floating pins, marking the position of the roof elements for the bunker, are in place on top of the bunker frame. The ESS Rigging team is currently placing the second and soon the third layer of concrete elements for the west sector bunker roof.
The bunker crane railway is being strengthened with bolts, for the crane to be reinstalled shortly.
ODIN and DREAM
Both control cabins are structurally completed and painted. Fitting of railings and stairs as well as interior works are ongoing.
