Detection of a structural impact in liquid metal flow during test runs of the EURISOL target mock-up

The many possible applications of Liquid Metal (LM) technology promise improved thermal efficiency, which can provide much-needed impetus to finding solutions for the growing world energy needs, as well as increasing the accuracy and power of certain delicate scientific apparatus used in the materials and biological sciences. The development of appropriate safeguards and instrumentation is critical to continued progress in this area of technology. During the hydraulic test of the EURISOL liquid metal target, a component failure was registered by the instrumentation; its detection in the presence of liquid metal flow was critical to ensuring the safety of both the personnel and the facility during a difficult test. The methods by which the failure was recorded and analysed are the subject of the paper.