Tekniker contributes with its technology to the European Spallation Source
The Tekniker technology centre has manufactured an ultra-high vacuum clamp mechanism for the ESS
This research facility currently under construction in Lund (Sweden), is a joint collaboration by 13 European countries with the aim to provide unique research opportunities within energy, health and the environment.
The European Spallation Source (ESS) is an ambitious collaboration project by 13 European countries aiming to build and operate a world-leading neutron source capable of observing materials at an atomic and molecular level, to analyse their structure and dynamics, enabling scientific breakthroughs within a wide range of areas, such as energy, health care and the environment.
ESS is expected to be in steady state operations in 2027. The research infrastructure extends over a total of 10 hectares (equivalent to 14 football pitches) located in Lund (Sweden).
Given the technical features of the project, a number of mechanisms and systems are required to access areas that are difficult to reach. An example of this can be found in a hermetically sealed chamber to be located inside the concrete and steel bunker which will house the neutron beams.
It is in this context that the Tekniker technology centre, a member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), has developed an innovative mechanism that provides a remote clamp system for ultra-high vacuum ducts (hereinafter called UAV) in areas where environmental conditions preclude manual actuation.
The manufacturing process to be followed for this sophisticated mechanism falls under Tekniker’s cooperation agreement in its capacity as a technological supplier associated with the construction of the neutron source ESS, hosted by Sweden and Denmark that kicked off in 2014.
The technology centre Tekniker’s extensive expertise in areas such as precision engineering, tribology, vacuum and coatings has led to the organisation becoming a supplier of reference in recent years to large international science facilities. In this context, ESS represents a new challenge for the centre as it will be necessary to integrate different technologies in only one mechanism.