R. van Weelderen

A First Baseline for the Magnets in the High Luminosity LHC Insertion Regions

The High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) project aims at accumulating 3000 fb-1 in the years 2023-2035, i.e., ten times more w.r.t. the nominal LHC performance expected for 2010-2021. One key element to reach this challenging performance is a new insertion region to reduce the beam size in the interaction point by approximately a factor two. This requires larger aperture magnets in the region spanning from the interaction point to the matching section quadrupoles. This aperture has been fixed to 150 mm for the inner triplet quadrupoles in 2012. In this paper, we give a first baseline of the interaction region. We discuss the main motivations that lead us to choose the technology, the combination of fields/gradients and lengths, the apertures, the quantity of superconductor, and the operational margin. Key elements are also the constraints given by the energy deposition in terms of heat load and radiation damage; we present the main features related to shielding and heat removal.

Design Studies for the Low-Beta Quadrupoles for the LHC Luminosity Upgrade

In this paper, we outline the present status of the design studies for the high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider, focusing on the choice of the aperture of the inner triplet quadrupoles. After reviewing some critical aspects of the design such as energy deposition, shielding, heat load, and protection, we present the main tentative parameters for building a 150-mm-aperture Nb3Sn quadrupole, based on the experience gathered by the LARP program in the past several years.

Overview and status of the Next European Dipole Joint Research Activity

The Next European Dipole (NED) Joint Research Activity was launched on 1 January 2004 to promote the development of high-performance Nb3Sn conductors in collaboration with European industry (aiming at a non-copper critical current density of 1500 A mm−2 at 4.2 K and 15 T) and to assess the suitability of Nb3Sn technology to the next generation of accelerator magnets (aiming at an aperture of 88 mm and a conductor peak field of ~15 T). It is part of the Coordinated Accelerator Research in Europe (CARE) project, which involves eight collaborators, and is half-funded by the European Union. After briefly recalling the Activity organization, we report the main progress achieved over the last year, which includes: the manufacturing of a double-bath He II cryostat for heat transfer measurements through Nb3Sn conductor insulation, detailed quench computations for various NED-like magnet configurations, the award of two industrial subcontracts for Nb3Sn conductor development, the first results of a cross-calibration programme of test facilities for Nb3Sn wire characterization, detailed investigations of the mechanical properties of heavily cold-drawn Cu/Nb/Sn composite wires, and the preliminary assessment of a new insulation system based on polyimide-sized glass fibre tapes. Last, we briefly review the efforts of an ongoing Working Group on magnet design and optimization.

Status of the Next European Dipole (NED) activity of the Collaborated Accelerator Research in Europe (CARE) project

Plans for LHC upgrade and for the final focalization of linear colliders call for large aperture and/or high-performance dipole and quadrupole magnets that may be beyond the reach of conventional NbTi magnet technology. The Next European Dipole (NED) activity was launched on January 1st, 2004 to promote the development of high-performance, Nb/sub 3/Sn wires in collaboration with European industry (aiming at a noncopper critical current density of 1500 A/mm/sup 2/ at 4.2 K and 15 T) and to assess the suitability of Nb/sub 3/Sn technology to the next generation of accelerator magnets (aiming at an aperture of 88 mm and a conductor peak field of 15 T). It is integrated within the Collaborated Accelerator Research in Europe (CARE) project, involves seven collaborators, and is partly funded by the European Union. We present here an overview of the NED activity and we report on the status of the various work packages it encompasses.

Cooling Strings of Superconducting Devices below 2 K: The Helium II Bayonet Heat Exchanger

High-energy particle accelerators and colliders contain long strings of superconducting devices — acceleration RF cavities and magnets — operating at high field, which may require cooling in helium II below 2 K. In order to maintain adequate operating conditions, the applied or generated heat loads must be extracted and transported with minimum temperature difference. Conventional cooling schemes based on conductive or convective heat transport in pressurized helium II very soon reach their intrinsic limits of thermal impedance over extended lengths. We present the concept of helium II bayonet heat exchanger, which has been developed at CERN for the magnet cooling scheme of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and describe its specific advantages as a slim, quasi-isothermal heat sink. Experimental results obtained on several test set-ups and a prototype magnet string have permitted to validate its performance and sizing rules, for transporting linear heat loads in the W. m”1 range over distances of several tens of meters.

A Simplified Cryogenic Distribution Scheme for the Large Hadron Collider

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), currently under construction at CERN, will make use of superconducting magnets operating in superfluid helium below 2 K. The reference cryogenic distribution scheme was based, in each 3.3 km sector served by a cryogenic plant, on a separate cryogenic distribution line which feeds elementary cooling loops corresponding to the length of a half-cell (53 m). In order to decrease the number of active components, cryogenic modules and jumper connections between distribution line and magnet strings a simplified cryogenic scheme is now implemented, based on cooling loops corresponding to the length of a full-cell (107 m) and compatible with the LHC requirements. Performance and redundancy limitations are discussed with respect to the previous scheme and balanced against potential cost savings.

The superfluid helium model cryoloop for the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

The high-field superconducting magnets of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) will operate in static pressurized helium II at a maximum temperature of 1.9 K, irrespective of their position around the 26.7 km circumference of the machine ring. Their static and dynamic heat loads will be transported by conduction in the pressurized helium II, to a heat exchanger tube threading its way along the magnet string, in which flowing saturated helium II absorbs the heat in quasi-isothermal conditions. Following promising results obtained with heated flow tests on two-phase helium II, a full-scale 20 m-long thermohydraulic model of a LHC cryoloop was designed, built and operated, addressing key issues such as flow stability, steady-state heat transfer, transient response to varying loads, control strategies, and influence of slope. We present the results obtained and show that they validate the basic design choices of the proposed LHC cryogenic system.

The Superfluid Helium Cryogenic System for the LHC Test String: Design, Construction and First Operation

A major milestone in the preparation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project is the testing and operation of a 50-m long superconducting magnet string, representing a half-cell of the machine lattice. This also corresponds to the length of the elementary cooling loops providing refrigeration at the 1.9 K, 4.5-to-20 K, and 50-to-75 K levels to the LHC cryomagnets. Based on existing large-capacity cryogenic infrastructure, we have designed, built and are operating a dedicated cryogenic system feeding the LHC Test String, with installed capacities of 120 W @ 1.8 K and 10 g/s supercritical helium at 4.5 K. The system also includes 15 kA, 1.6 kA, 500 A, 250 A and 50 A current lead pairs for powering of main and auxiliary magnet circuits, as well as a 120 kW liquid nitrogen vaporizer for controlled cooldown of the 105 kg cold mass. The system is fully instrumented, controlled by dedicated industrial PLCs connected to an industrial supervision system. We report on performance in operation, including response of the system to transients such as current ramp and discharge, as well as magnet resistive transitions.

Cryogenic operation and testing of the extended LHC Prototype Magnet String

Publisher Summary A major milestone in the validation of the basic technical choices for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) project, as far as main accelerator systems - magnets, cryogenics and vacuum- are concerned, is the testing and operation of a full-scale superconducting magnet string, representing a half-cell of the machine lattice. After the assembly, commissioning and successful first operation of a full-scale superconducting magnet string, and as a new prototype dipole magnet is added to approach final configuration, the cryogenic system has been slightly modified to allow the verification of the performance of the superfluid helium cooling loop in counter-current two-phase flow. At the same time the control system strategies have been updated and only two quench relief valves have been installed, one at each end of the string.

DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND FIRST COMMISSIONING RESULTS OF THE ELECTRICAL FEEDBOXES OF THE LHC

A total of 44 CERN designed cryogenic electrical feedboxes are needed to power the LHC superconducting magnets. The feedboxes include more than 1000 superconducting circuits fed by high temperature superconductor and conventional current leads ranging from 120 A to 13 kA. In addition to providing the electrical current to the superconducting circuits, they also ensure specific mechanical and cryogenic functions for the LHC. The paper focuses on the main design aspects and related production operations and gives an overview of specific technologies employed. Results of the commissioning of the feedboxes of the first LHC sectors are presented.