Accelerator
Normal Conducting Linac
Beam commissioning from the Ion Source to the Faraday cup of the first Drift Tube Linac (DTL) section was successfully completed before the summer break. The DTL area is ready for the installation of DTLs 2-4. Installation of the next drift tube linac, which will be DTL4, is expected to start mid-September.
Cryomodules
Five medium beta cryomodules have been fully tested and is ready for installation. The next cryomodule in line is currently being installed inside a on-site test stand bunker.
All the elliptical cryomodules needed for ESS to be ready for beam on Target are on site; 7 medium beta and 2 high beta.
A test installation of a medium beta cryomodule in the tunnel was successfully completed.
Klystron Gallery
In the Normal Conducting Gallery, maintenance in preparation for the next stage of beam commissioning is ongoing. Configurations are modified and E-bends in the waveguide system are being improved.
Klystron power tests continue in the medium beta part of the gallery.
Target Systems
The moderator reflector plug has been delivered to ESS from German in-kind partner Forschungszentrum Jülich. The system contains the beryllium reflector, two hydrogen moderators and a thermal moderator. Its job is to slow down the high energy neutrons from spallation to energy levels suitable for the scientific instruments.
All components to be installed into the Target Monolith vessel - including the Target Wheel, shaft, and drive unit, the monitoring plug and the moderator and reflector plug - will be subject to handling and rotation tests in the Target Mock Up and Test Stand (MUTS), located in the Transport Hall.
The second batch of inner shielding steel blocks has been delivered to the Target high bay. This batch includes cooling blocks with cooling channels. Prior to Installation in the Monolith vessel, welding of pipes is taking place inside a cleanroom confinement.
Installation of the Proton Beam Drift Room Pipe, connecting the Accelerator to the Target Monolith, has continued in the confined space in the Accelerator to Target (A2T) area. The total length of the pipe, connecting to the remote clamp, is just over 12 metres.
Instruments
BIFROST
Installations has progressed inside the BIFROST cave. Close to the beam entrance, a structure for the neutron guide is in place and a platform has been built inside the cave. Here, a false floor will be installed. The sample stage and a so-called Get-lost tube close to the beam stop, have also been installed.
A base structure for the BIFROST out of bunker neutron guides is in place along the lower shielding blocks for the part of the beamline inside Experimental Hall 2. Installation of the out-of-bunker neutron guide is scheduled for this autumn.
A Bandwidth chopper will be installed for BIFROST in the Beamline Gallery. BIFROST is located approximately 160 metres from the Target, and is one the longest instruments at ESS.
LOKI
A B4C (Boron Carbide) mat was installed under the detector tank.
Installation of electrical raceways for under the tank is under way. Next up is the mounting of cave steel walls.
ESTIA
A support structure is in place for Selene guide 2. Installation of the guide will start soon, with commissioning and optics assembly following this autumn.
DREAM
A support structure for the detector and sample vessel is in place inside the cave. The sample vessel, delivered from German in-kind partner Jülich, was installed and vacuum tests performed.
Neutron guide integration
Before the summer break, neutron optics were successfully assembled into the Neutron Beam Port Inserts (NBPI) for ODIN and LOKI. Delivery of the second batch of NBPIs is coming for DREAM, ESTIA, VESPA and SKADI. Optics assembly will follow.