A Quality Service for the CERN Accelerators and Technology Sector

This paper describes one definition of the large spectrum word: “quality” and what it means in the daily work at CERN. In this given context, it introduces the ATS Quality Service, its goals, some of its achievements and perspective

Layout Drawings of the LHC Collider

The team in charge of the LHC integration largely uses 3D scenes combining functional positions of equipments and the 3D CAD model issued from the CERN Drawing Directory (CDD) repository. This is made possible through the Digital Mock-Up tool developed at CERN. Giving dimensions in 3D context is a challenge with the current 3D CAD tools used at CERN. Requirements from users groups have made clear a need for automatic production of 2D layout drawings. This paper presents the retained solution to create on-request dimensioned drawings, to publish them, while maintaining coherence and consistency with the 3D integration scenes. Reliability of the information, on-line availability of the latest layout changes on dimensions and positions of equipments, and the maintenance of the facility is also described

LHC Reference Database : Towards a Mechanical, Optical and Electrical Layout Database

The LHC project has entered a phase of integration and installation of thousands of diverse components. The Hardware Commissioning work has also started. Collecting and distributing reliable and coherent information on the equipments and their layout becomes a crucial requirement in the lifecycle of the project. Existing database tools had to evolve to a more generic model to cover not only optical layout, but also the mechanical and the electrical aspects. This paper explains the requirements, the implementation and the benefits of this new database model

CERN Accelerators Topology Configuration: Facing the Next Long Shutdown

The Configuration and Layout (CL) team at CERN ensures that there is a clear and coherent representation of the status of the CERN underground facilities (about 60 km of equipment) and main accelerator projects at a given point in time. In view of the major equipment changes to be carried out during the extended end of year technical stop (EYETS), the next Long Shutdown (LS2), and to facilitate the associated preparatory work of multiple CERN groups, the CL team has developed an immersive visualisation tool, displaying 360 degree panoramic images of CERN underground facilities. In addition, the CL team is launching a process to manage future layout configurations inside the CERN Layout database in parallel to the current configuration. This paper presents the 360 degree panorama visualisation tool and the parallel configuration process, to view the past, current and future status of the CERN accelerator complex. It highlights their added value for the CERN groups in the preparatory phase for upgrade and consolidation modifications and discusses the potential future improvements

Integration, Configuration and Coordination: from Project to Reality, at CERN

The rigorous process in place at CERN to approve and follow-up the implementation of any modification of the LHC machine and its Injectors is presented in this paper. Our methodology implies the support of three teams, in charge of the configuration management, the scheduling and safety coordination, and the 3D integration studies. At each stage of the project the support of the three teams evolves, to provide the adequate support in the preparation phase and during the technical stops and long shutdowns. The formal roles and the processes used to govern the interaction of the Integration, Configuration and Coordination teams, and their relation to the project teams during the preparation and implementation phases, for activities to be performed in LHC and its injector chain are described and discussed

Programmed Stops Coordination: from Preparation to Completion

The exploitation of the CERN accelerator complex requires programmed stops of the operation, to execute various activities as standard maintenances, upgrades, consolidations and projects implementations. The Sec-ond Long Shutdown (LS2) of the LHC and its Injectors started in December 2018 and was completed by the end of 2020 for the Injectors and early 2022 for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). A huge number of activities were performed during this period, with challenges at various levels, from technical, to organizational and managerial. This paper presents the coordination of the Programmed Stops of the CERN accelerator complex, within the Accelerator Coordination & Engineering (EN-ACE) Group for the LHC and its injectors, from the preparation process to the completion of these periods. It takes the recent LS2 as a reference, and it highlights key points of success and lessons learnt in terms of general coordination, quality assurance, configuration and lay-out management, spatial integration, planning and scheduling, operational safety, logistics and worksite coordination. It introduces the preparation of the Run 3 Programmed Stops coordination based on the successful LS2 methodology

Processes and Tools to Manage CERN Programmed Stops Applied to the Second Long Shutdown of the Accelerator Complex

The preparation and follow-up of CERN accelerator complex programmed stops require clear processes and methodologies. The LHC and its Injectors were stopped in December 2018, to maintain, consolidate and upgrade the different equipment of the accelerator chain. During the Long Shutdown 2 (LS2), major projects were implemented such as the LHC Injectors upgrade and the LHC Dipoles Diodes consolidation. The installation of some equipment of the HL-LHC project took also place. This paper presents the application to the LS2 of the processes and tools to managed CERN programmed stops: it covers the preparation, implementation and follow up phases, as well as the KPIs, the tools used to build a coherent schedule and to follow up and report the progress. The description of the methodology to create a linear schedule, as well the construction of automatised broken lines and progress curves are detailed. It also describes the organizational set-up for the coordination of the works, the main activities and the key milestones. The impact of the COVID-19 on the long shutdown will be described, especially the strategy implemented to minimise its consequences

The Second Long Shutdown of the LHC and Its Injectors: Feedback from the Accelerator Coordination and Engineering Group

The operation of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN started in September 2008. Every 5 or 6 years, Long Shutdowns (LS) are programmed to execute time-intensive ordinary and extra-ordinary maintenance of the LHC and its injectors. The second LS (LS2) started in December 2018 and was completed end 2020 for the injectors and early 2022 for the LHC. A huge number of maintenance, consolidation and upgrade activities, especially the upgrade of the injectors complex, were performed with challenges at various levels, from technical, to organizational and managerial. This paper presents the applied methodology put in place by the Accelerator Coordination & Engineering (EN-ACE) Group, in charge of the technical coordination of the activities for the interventions and changes to the LHC and its injectors, to ensure that the installation activities are performed safely, meeting the required high level of quality, while optimizing the schedule. It highlights key points of success and lessons learnt in terms of general coordination, quality assurance, configuration and layout management, spatial integration, planning and scheduling, operational safety, logistics and worksite coordinatio

New Coordination Tools to Prepare the Programmed Stops in the LHC and its Injectors

The LHC and its Injectors are submitted to an overall lifecycle of three to four years of physics delivery to Experiments with a two-year long stop, also known as Long Shutdown (LS). The years of physics delivery are ended by a programmed stop for the immediate preventive and corrective maintenance, also known as (Extended)-Year-End Technical Stop - (E)YETS. This regular cycle is to be addressed in parallel with other projects: the upgrade projects to the accelerator complex of the LHC (High-Luminosity project) and to its Injectors (LHC Injectors Upgrade), and the "standard" consolidation tasks. This paper describes the way the programmed stops coordination group prepares the activities to take place during the stop with a set of new tools and processes that ease the communication between the stakeholders of the coordination