Even though simple designs can be conceived, the engineering of the system is not simple due to simlation complexity of liquid metal free surface systems. Moreover a windowless design has never been implemented for HPSS applications up to now, while solutions with a beam window are relatively common. Since the same coolant is used in the primary cooling loop of the EADF core, one could consider both the possibilities of using the same loop or an independent one for the target cooling. The use of the EADF primary coolant for the cooling of the beam window is a simple solution. This could not be desirable since spallation products are in general much more toxic than the activation products generated in the EADF coolant.
System control is easier.
The system can be tested and used independently from the EADF, for example as a target for the accelerator prototype. The target structures add a quantity of steel in the central part of the EAP core which reduces the core multiplication factor. The target region has to fit in the central hole of the sub critical core which has currently a free diameter of 550 mm. Beam penetration must occur from the top of the vessel in order to maintain the integrity of the vessel and prevent coolant losses. The target region above the core has the same maximum diameter in order to be compatible with the fuel loading machine operations.