Final design, fluid dynamic and structural mechanical analysis of a liquid hydrogen Moderator for the European Spallation Source

The European Spallation Source (ESS) is currently in the construction phase and should have first beam on Target in 2019. ESS, located in Sweden, will be the most powerful spallation neutron source worldwide, with the goal to produce neutrons for research. As an in-kind partner the Forschungszentrum Juelich will among others, design and manufacture the four liquid hydrogen Moderators, which are located above and below the Target. Those vessels are confining the cold hydrogen used to reduce the energy level of the fast neutrons, produced by spallation in the Target, in order to make the neutrons usable for neutron scattering instruments. Due to the requirements [1], a fluid dynamic analysis with pressure and temperature depended hydrogen data, taking into account the pseudo critical phenomena and the pulsed neutronic heating (pressure waves) is necessary. With the fluid dynamic results, a structure mechanical analysis including radiation damage investigation (RCC-MRx code [5]), low temperature properties as well as strength reduction by welding can be realized. Finally, the manufacturing and welding completes the design process.