Performance and failure mode of generic beam dump panels

The design of beam and plasma dumps is predicated on the successful development of actively cooled panels or tube banks that can withstand heat fluxes of several kilowatts per square centimeter for thousands of multisecond cycles. As part of a high heat flux component development program, analysis of several types of advanced high heat flux targets after exposure to a high heat flux environment was performed using metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. Sample failure was attributed to several different mechanisms in different tests, and included surface melting, water deposit buildup, coating/substrate interaction and internal erosion