Engineering the SNS RTBT/Target Interface for Remote Handling

The SNS facility is designed for a 1.4MW 1.0GeV proton beam and the interface region of this beam with the Hg spallation target will be highly activated. This installation is located about fifteen feet below the access floor Fig. 1 and the activity levels in the RTBT/Target interface are sufficiently high to warrant the application of Remote Handling (RH) techniques. The installed components are manufactured from radiation hard materials with serviceability beyond the lifetime of the machine, and all connections and mechanisms have been simplified to allow remote handling. The application of pneumatics to facilitate the assembly of major components and to the operation of moveable diagnostics has produced some unique design solutions.