Preliminary Remote Handling Analysis and Validation of the Electrical Connectors Bridge for the IFMIF-DONES High Flux Test Module

The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility—DEMO-Oriented Neutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) is an innovative accelerator facility aiming to achieve a high-intensity neutron flux for analyzing and qualifying fusion materials. The main objective of IFMIF-DONES is to study the behavior of materials under irradiation conditions compatible with the one expected in the DEMOnstration power plant (DEMO) fusion reactor. To achieve the necessary neutron energy and flux, the IMIF-DONES plant accelerates a deuteron beam on a liquid lithium target in the test cell (TC), reaching a flux value up to $10^{15}$ n/s/cm2 with a peak energy of 14 MeV. Due to the high neutron activation of the TC, remote handling (RH) is mandatory to perform the maintenance of the system. Furthermore, the components employed in the TC shall withstand the harsh radioactive environment. The electrical connectors (ECs) of the high flux test module (HFTM) are the critical components of the TC as they communicate all the necessary signals between the HFTM and the IFMIF-DONES facility. The ECs are designed to ease the RH maintenance process using multiconnector plates housed in a metal bridge and use alumina as an insulating material. This article presents the developed ECs and ECs bridge design and the RH validation with a thorough experimental analysis performed at the divertor refurbishment platform (DRP) laboratory of ENEA C. R. Brasimone. The developed ECs and ECs bridge designs proved suitable for RH maintenance. The analysis also showed possible improvements to implement before adoption in IFMIF-DONES.