Automation of the software production process for multiple cryogenic control applications

The development of process control systems for the cryogenic infrastructure at CERN is based on an automatic software generation approach. The overall complexity of the systems, their frequent evolution as well as the extensive use of databases, repositories, commercial engineering software and CERN frameworks have led to further efforts towards improving the existing automation based software production methodology. A large number of control system upgrades were successfully performed for the Cryogenics in the LHC accelerator, applying the Continuous Integration practice integrating all software production tasks, tools and technologies. The production and maintenance of the control software for multiple cryogenic applications have become more reliable while significantly reducing the required time and effort. This concept became a guideline for development of process control software for new cryogenic systems at CERN. This publication presents the software production methodology, as well as the summary of several years of experience with the enhanced automated control software production, already implemented for the Cryogenics of the LHC accelerator and the CERN cryogenic test facilities

Status of the Process Control Systems Upgrade for the Cryogenic Installations of the LHC Based ATLAS and CMS Detectors

The ATLAS and CMS cryogenic control systems have been operational for more than a decade. Over this period, the number of PLCs faults increased due to equipment ageing, leading to systems failures. Maintenance of the systems started to be problematic due to the unavailability of some PLC hardware components, which had become obsolete. This led to a review of the hardware architecture and its upgrade to the latest technology, ensuring a longer equipment life cycle and facilitating the implementation of modifications to the process logic. The change of the hardware provided an opportunity to upgrade the process control applications using the most recent CERN frameworks and commercial engineering software, improving the in-house software production methods and tools. Integration of all software production tasks and technologies using the Continuous Integration practice allows us to prepare and implement more robust software while reducing the required time and effort. The publication presents the current status of the project, the strategy for hardware migration, enhanced software production methodology as well as the experience already gained from the first implementations