Proceedings of the 16th International Workshop on Beryllium Technology (BeWS-16) : October 19-20, 2023, Santander, Spain

Abstract

The 16th International Workshop on Beryllium Technology (BeWS-16) took place on 19-20 October 2023 in Santander, Spain, in conjunction with ICFRM-21 (International Conference on Fusion Reactor Materials) in Granada. Local organization was led by ”Leading Metal Mechanic Solutions” in Cantabria, Spain, a commer cial enterprise with a history of beryllium fabrication work for fusion applications, specifically ITER First Wall tiles. Overall technical support for the workshop came from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. The workshop venue was kindly provided free of charge by the Cantabria Government and the local organizers at Leading. The workshop was held in a hybrid mode, allowing for both in-person and online presentations and participation. About 50 participants represented academia, research institutes, and commercial industry from Spain, Germany, the USA, Japan, the UK, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Sweden. The BeWS-16 program included two full working days with eight technical sessions. The workshop’s first day featured an engaging opening session, which included a welcome and introduction from the official representa tive of the Society for the Regional Development of Cantabria (SOREDCAN), Mr. Angel Gonzalez Madrazo, and the head of the ”Leading,” Mr. Marcos Perez. The first session started with invited presentations by Dr. Jae-Hwan Kim of QST in Japan on the current status of advanced neutron multipliers for JA DEMO (Demonstration Power Plant), followed by an overview on analysis methods of beryllium used in magnetic-confined fusion devices delivered by Professor Marek Rubel of KTH in Sweden. The “Fabrication & Recycling of Beryllium and Beryllides” session showcased innovative approaches, sharing new process ideas on beryllium extraction from beryl ore, which have the potential to provide a new commercial source for lower cost fusion-grade beryllium, also with ultra-low uranium content. New concepts on recycling for both irradiated and residual beryllium and beryllides were also presented. The next session addressed the challenges of molten salt breeders, specifically FLiBe (lithium-beryllium fluoride), being actively considered by multiple fusion start-up companies. The last session of the first day on ”Mechanical Properties & Irradiation Damage” provided valuable insights into screening tests for thermo mechanical properties of beryllium pebble beds, a form of the material that would be used as a neutron mul tiplier in a solid-breeder blanket design. That information was presented by Dr. Jorg Reimann of KIT in ¨ Germany and also included data on the mechanical properties of beryllide intermetallic compounds. The day was concluded with the BeWS-16 conference dinner at the Eurostars Hotel Real in Santander. The second day of the workshop kicked off with a presentation on the capabilities of the local organizers and host, “Leading Metal Mechanic Solutions”, and it was given by Mr. Ignacio Cobo, a senior manager at Leading. Talks in the ”Irradiation Damage & He-Implantation” session included those by Drs. Slava Kuksenko of UKAEA and Yutaka Sugimoto of QST. Their presentations focused on the investigation of radiation-damage effects in beryllium. The Modeling session, featuring ab initio simulations of helium and hydrogen behavior in beryllides, provided valuable modeling insights. The closing session was devoted to ”Health & Safety,” specifically the design of beryllium-handling and fabrication facilities, surface sampling techniques, methods for sample analysis, and screening tests. Mr. Aniceto Goraieb of KBHF (Karlsruhe Beryllium Handling Facility) in Germany, concluded the workshop with a presentation on the BeYOND Industrial Forum, announcing that the focus of future meetings would be expanded to include discussion on public-private partnerships (PPP) in fusion. The BeWS-16 International Organizing Committee (IOC) members voted to recognize three outstanding con tributors to the workshop series. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to Dr. Gunte Kizane of the University of Latvia and to Prof. Marek Rubel of KTH in Sweden for their many contributions to beryllium re search and their support of the Beryllium Workshops with regular attendance over the span of their long careers in the field. The Mario Dalle Donne Memorial Award (MDDMA) was bestowed upon Dr. Ramil Gaisin of KIT in Germany in recognition of his remarkable achievements in advancing the development and characterization of beryllide intermetallic compounds in the form of full-sized industrially fabricated blocks. The next Beryllium Workshop (BeWS-17) is planned to be held in the autumn of 2025, most likely in conjunc tion with ICFRM-22 in Japan, but details are yet to be determined. An announcement confirming dates and location will be made sometime in the latter half of 2024. Datei-Upload durch TIB