The SPES project at the INFN- Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro

Pretea, G.; Andrighetto, A.; Manzolaro, M.; Corradetti, S.; Scarpa, D.; Rossignoli, M.; Monetti, A.; Lollo, M.; Calderolla, M.; Vásquez, Jesus; Zafiropoulos, D.; Sarchiapone, L.; Benini, D.; Favaron, P.; Rigato, Mauro; Pegoraro, Renzo; Maniero, D.; Calabretta, L.; Comunian, M.; Maggiore, M.; Lombardi, A.; Piazza, Luigi; Porcellato, A.M.; Roncolato, C.; Bisoffi, G.; Pisent, A.; Galatà, A.; Giacchini, M.; Bassato, G.; Canella, S.; Gramegna, F.; Valiente, J.; Bermudez, J.; Mastinu, P.; Esposito, J.; Wyss, J.; Zanella, S.

doi:10.1051/epjconf/20146611030

Cited by 27 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The selective production of exotic species (SPES) facility at the Legnaro National Laboratories of INFN [1] is a second-generation accelerator for the production of neutron-rich Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental testing and numerical simulations for life prediction of gate valve O-rings exposed to mixed neutron and gamma fields

et al. 2018

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EPDM O-rings of gate valves employed for the construction of a second-generation accelerator for the production of neutron-rich Radioactive Ion Beams were studied in order to assess their sealing performance both during the facility service time and the post-service storage phase. Several O-ring specimens were at first exposed to different dose levels of mixed neutron and gamma radiations. Correspondent modifications of physical and mechanical properties of the material were investigated by means of uniaxial tensile tests, dynamic mechanical analyses, aging, compression set and vacuum leak tests. A hyperelastic strain energy function was adopted to fit the mechanical response of the material as a function of the absorbed dose. The minimum squeeze degree that guarantees O-ring sealing efficiency at different irradiation levels was determined by varying the interference between O-rings and grooves. A finite element model of the vacuum leak test was then set up to assess the contact pressure level required to ensure sealing. Numerical simulations of the gate valve main O-ring were subsequently carried out. By comparison of the predicted contact pressure and strain levels with experimental results, a life prediction map, as function of the service time, the storage time and the O-ring squeeze degree, was proposed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental testing and numerical simulations for life prediction of gate valve O-rings exposed to mixed neutron and gamma fields

et al. 2018

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“…NEPIR (NEutron and Proton IRradiation facility) is a multidisciplinary project at the new 30-70 MeV cyclotron of SPES [1] at the INFN National Laboratories of Legnaro (LNL). NEPIR will be built in stages, according to available funds.…”

Section: Introduction: Nepirmentioning

confidence: 99%

CoolGAL: a Galinstan bathed Be fast neutron production target at the NEPIR facility

et al. 2020

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In this contribution, we present the CoolGAL fast neutron production target system, to be used in the initial phase of the NEPIR irradiation beamline at the SPES facility, that will be operational in 2022. Initially, NEPIR will be used for shielding studies against fast neutrons for space applications and to investigate neutron-induced single event effects in microelectronic devices and systems. In CoolGAL, the neutron production component, a thick Be cylinder, is immersed in a static bath of Galinstan, a liquid alloy of Ga, In and Sn, contained by an outer water cooled copper cladding. MCNPX calculations indicate that, by using a 1 μA current of 70 MeV protons, it can produce a fast neutron energy spectrum that is somewhat flat the 30-65 MeV energy range and with a sharp cut-off at the beam energy. At the standard test point, located 2.6 m downstream from the source, the beam spot diameter, defined by the peculiar collimation scheme of the initial phase of NEPIR, is 10 cm and the integral fast neutron flux is Φn(1< En<65 MeV) ~ 3×106 n cm-2s-1. Using proton beams with two different energies, one can calculate, by subtraction, the effects due to the neutrons in the energy interval defined by the two cut-off values. Preliminary results of ANSYS calculations, for a 1 μA proton current of 70 MeV protons (70 W), show a limited regime temperature (28 °C) of the Be component, capable of ensuring the exceptional safety level required for the operation at SPES. The thermal reliability of CoolGAL is very promising for future developments that require higher proton currents.

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“…An example is the Selective Production of Exotic Species (SPES) facility at the Legnaro National Laboratories of INFN, Italy, now in the construction phase, which is a second generation accelerator for the production of neutron‐rich radioactive ion beams . In the proximity of its 238 UC x target, materials will be subjected to intense neutron and gamma fields, with fluxes around the target estimated in the order of 10 10 particle cm −2 s −1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degradation of EPDM and FPM elastomers irradiated at very high dose rates in mixed gamma and neutron fields

Ferrari

Pandini

Zenoni

et al. 2019

Polymer Engineering & Sci

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Elastomers are widely used in radioactive environments, where ionizing radiations induce a deterioration of their properties due to degradative phenomena occurring in the polymer structure. Their radiation resistance is usually assessed using γ‐rays and relatively low dose rates, but in actual applications, they are often exposed to mixed radiation fields and higher dose rates. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is known for its excellent resistance to γ‐rays but absorbs a larger dose by neutron interactions than fluoroelastomer (FPM). In this work, EPDM and FPM were irradiated in mixed neutron and gamma fields, using high dose rates (from 22 to 700 kGy h−1) and total absorbed doses between 0.2 and 3.5 MGy. The effects of irradiation were assessed by swelling tests, differential scanning calorimetry analysis and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and tensile tests. The results show that, even if irradiations were carried out in air, degradation took place under nonoxidative conditions owing to the high dose rates employed. Under such conditions, crosslinking is the dominant radiation‐induced reaction in both elastomers. Moreover, material degradation seems to be influenced mostly by the total absorbed dose and not by the type of radiation. Contrary to what observed at the lower dose rates employed with γ‐rays, major dose rate effects are not observed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:2522–2532, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers

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The SPES project at the INFN- Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro

Cited by 27 publications

References 8 publications

Experimental testing and numerical simulations for life prediction of gate valve O-rings exposed to mixed neutron and gamma fields

Experimental testing and numerical simulations for life prediction of gate valve O-rings exposed to mixed neutron and gamma fields

CoolGAL: a Galinstan bathed Be fast neutron production target at the NEPIR facility

Degradation of EPDM and FPM elastomers irradiated at very high dose rates in mixed gamma and neutron fields

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