Thermomechanical Behavior of the HL-LHC 11 Tesla Nb3Sn Magnet Coil Constituents during Reaction Heat Treatment

The knowledge of the temperature induced changes of the superconductor volume, and of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of the different coil and tooling materials is required for predicting the coil geometry and the stress distribution in the coil after the Nb3Sn reaction heat treatment. In the present study we have measured the Young's and shear moduli of the HL-LHC 11 T Nb3Sn dipole magnet coil and reaction tool constituents during in situ heat cycles with the dynamic resonance method. The thermal expansion behaviours of the coil components and of a free standing Nb3Sn wire were compared based on dilation experiments.Comment: 6 pages, 12 figures, presented at MT25 conferenc

Geometry and Alignment Requirements for the LHC Main Dipole

The 15 m long LHC superconducting dipole magnets, which contain two beam channels in a common mechanical structure, produce a magnetic field of 8.3 T required to deflect protons with 7 TeV/c momentum along a circular trajectory in the already existing LEP tunnel. The dipoles are bent in their horizontal plane to provide the largest possible mechanical aperture to the circulating beam. This paper describes the theoretical geometry of the dipole cold mass and the alignment requirements, which are imposed to satisfy the demands of LHC machine operation. A short description of the measuring and alignment procedures and of the measuring instruments is given. Results of a small series of prototype cold masses are presented and discussed

Metrology of the LHC Dipole Cold Masses

In order to provide the largest possible mechanical aperture for the LHC beam, the dipole cold masses have to match the circular trajectory of the particle beam. The requirements on the dipole cold mass geometry are dictated by the beam optics of the LHC machine and by the mechanical deformation limits of the interconnection zone. The geometry of the approximately 15 m long, 0.57 m diameter and 30 t weight dipole cold mass is verified by the measurement of the axes of the cold bore tubes. The tight tolerances imposed, necessitate the use of a high accuracy 3D measuring system based on optical methods. During the last 2 years, 6 prototypes and 4 pre-series magnets have been assembled at CERN. The summary of the results obtained on these cold masses is presented, as well as the evolution of the tooling and the measuring method

Partial cricotracheal resection for pediatric subglottic stenosis: a single institution's experience in 60 cases

Abstract.: In our study, 60 infants and children, each with a severe subglottic stenosis (SGS), underwent partial cricotracheal resection (PCTR) with primary thyrotracheal anastomosis. According to the Myer-Cotton classification, two were grade II, 41 were grade III and 17 were grade IV stenoses. Of the 60 patients, 57 (95%) are presently decannulated, and one patient sustained a complete restenosis. Two patients with better than 80% subglottic airways still are waiting for decannulation: one because of bilateral cricoarytenoid joint fixation and the second because of temporary stenting of the subglottis with a Montgomery T-tube. The rate of decannulation is 97% (36 of 37 cases) in primary PCTRs, 100% (13 of 13 cases) in salvage PCTRs for failed laryngotracheal reconstructions (LTR) and 70% (7 of 10 cases) in extended PCTRs (i.e., PCTR associated with an additional open-airway procedure

Impact of the 3D source geometry on time-delay measurements of lensed type-Ia Supernovae

It has recently been proposed that gravitationally lensed type-Ia supernovae can provide microlensing-free time-delay measurements provided that the measurement is taken during the achromatic expansion phase of the explosion and that color light curves are used rather than single-band light curves. If verified, this would provide both precise and accurate time-delay measurements, making lensed type-Ia supernovae a new golden standard for time-delay cosmography. However, the 3D geometry of the expanding shell can introduce an additional bias that has not yet been fully explored. In this work, we present and discuss the impact of this effect on time-delay cosmography with lensed supernovae and find that on average it leads to a bias of a few tenths of a day for individual lensed systems. This is negligible in view of the cosmological time delays predicted for typical lensed type-Ia supernovae but not for the specific case of the recently discovered type-Ia supernova iPTF16geu, whose time delays are expected to be smaller than a day.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, published in A&

A powder metallurgy austenitic stainless steel for application at very low temperatures

The Large Hadron Collider to be built at CERN will require 1232 superconducting dipole magnets operating at 1.9 K. By virtue of their mechanical properties, weldability and improved austenite stability, nitrogen enriched austenitic stainless steels have been chosen as the material for several of the structural components of these magnets. Powder Metallurgy (PM) could represent an attractive production technique for components of complex shape for which dimension tolerances, dimensional stability, weldability are key issues during fabrication, and mechanical properties, ductility and leak tightness have to be guaranteed during operation. PM Hot Isostatic Pressed test plates and prototype components of 316LN-type grade have been produced by Santasalo Powdermet Oy. They have been fully characterized and mechanically tested down to 4.2 K at CERN. The fine grained structure, the absence of residual stresses, the full isotropy of mechanical properties associated to the low level of Prior Particle Boundaries oxides resulted in superior mechanical properties and high ductility down to liquid helium temperature. The ready weldability and the leak tightness of the alloy have been demonstrated. The properties measured on test plates are comparable to those found in real components, such as prototype end covers fabricated by the same PM technique

Modélisation de l'évolution du couvert nival, sur le sous-bassin LG4 de la rivière La Grande dans le nord du Québec, à l'aide du modèle français CROCUS

Au Québec, l'accumulation de la neige au sol prend une grande importance dans bon nombre d'activités humaines comme la production d'hydroélectricité. Face à cette importance de la neige, il devient fort intéressant de faire appel à des outils de modélisation dans le but de faire le suivi complet du manteau neigeux par la simulation des différents processus physiques agissant sur le couvert nival. En ce sens, la présente recherche vise à évaluer la capacité d'adaptation aux conditions environnementales du Québec, du modèle français multicouches CROCUS de suivi et de fonte du couvert nival, en vue de son utilisation ultérieure. Le choix du site d'étude s'accorde avec la présence de stations d'acquisition de données sur le couvert nival et la disponibilité d'un large éventail de données météorologiques essentielles aux modélisations.Suite au prétraitement des données d'entrée, le modèle CROCUS a pu être étalonné dans le but d'évaluer ses aptitudes à simuler l'évolution de l'épaisseur et de l'équivalent en eau du couvert nival, de même que les profils de densité et de température de ce couvert. Compte tenu des données disponibles, les résultats des périodes d'étalonnage et de vérification peuvent être considérés comme très bons et très encourageants pour des applications ultérieures de CROCUS au Québec.In Québec, snow accumulation on the ground is important for a large number of activities, including hydroelectric production. Snow being an important environmental aspect to look at for operations in cold regions, making use of adequate models able to simulate the various physical processes affecting the characteristics of the snowpack throughout the entire snow season becomes also quite important. So, the present project aims to evaluate the ability of the CROCUS French multilayer snow model to be adapted to Northern Quebec environmental conditions. The choice of the study area has been done on the basis of data availability on both the temporal evolution the snowpack at three automatic stations and the meteorological variables necessary as input to the model. Following preprocessing of input data, the CROCUS model has been calibrated in order to evaluate his capability to simulate the temporal evolution not only of the thickness and water equivalent of the snowpack, but also of the density and temperature profiles within the pack. Given the available data, the results for both the calibration and verification periods can be considered as good and very encouraging for future applications of the CROCUS model in Québec

Formation des ions bromate dans une colonne à bulles: Effets du peroxyde d'hydrogène lors de l'ozonation

L'utilisation de l'ozone, aujourd'hui très répandue dans les filières de potabilisation, n'est pas sans effet secondaire. De nombreux sous-produits peuvent se former comme notamment les ions bromates, sous produits finaux d'oxydation des bromures contenus dans les eaux. Malheureusement, le mécanisme de production de cette espèce est complexe et dépend de nombreux paramètres difficiles à appréhender.Sur une installation pilote de type colonne à bulles fonctionnant à contre-courant, nous avons étudié l'influence de différents paramètres, comme le pH, le temps de contact, la dose d'ozone et la dose de peroxyde d'hydrogène, sur la formation des bromates et la dégradation des pesticides, représentée par l'atrazine.Les résultats de la littérature ont été confirmés lors de l'emploi unique de l'ozone. La formation des ions bromate est influencée par la présence du peroxyde d'hydrogène. Cet oxydant intervient de manière non négligeable sur la consommation des entités intermédiaires. Le couple HOBr/OBr- peut être oxydé par l'ozone moléculaire et le radical OH° mais peut également être réduit par l'ozone et par le peroxyde sous sa forme acide ou sa base conjuguée. En ce qui concerne la dégradation des pesticides, l'utilisation de peroxyde d'hydrogène couplé à l'ozone favorise l'oxydation de la molécule d'atrazine grâce à la présence plus importante de radicaux hydroxyles.Une pollution accidentelle en pesticides pourra être traitée par l'ajout ponctuel de peroxyde d'hydrogène avec une augmentation de pH, la formation des bromates sera, dans ce cas, faible. La désinfection sera alors assurée par l'étape de chloration.In drinking water treatment plants, ozonation is often used to disinfect, to remove micropollutants and to improve water taste and odour. Ozonation increases organic matter biodegradability before filtration through granular active carbon and reduces the concentration of haloform precursors that react in the final chlorination step. However, by-products that could be detrimental to human health could be formed. For example, bromates, which are classified as carcinogenic compounds by the I.A.R.C, are produced during the ozonation of bromide-containing water. The mechanism of bromate formation is complex, due to the participation of molecular ozone and radical (hydroxyl and carbonate) reactions. The optimisation of the process should allow for a good disinfection and a reduction in the levels of micropollutants, together with low by-product formation.Using a pilot-scale counter-current bubble column, we have measured the bromate concentration in relation to pesticide removal. Water spiked with bromide and atrazine was stored in a completely stirred-tank (2 m3) before being pumped to the top of the column. The inlet gaseous ozone was measured by an analyser using UV detection, the outlet gaseous ozone was monitored by the potassium iodide method, and the dissolved ozone concentration was determined by the indigo trisulfonate method. Bromides and bromates were quantified by ion chromatography with a conductimetric detector, with a sodium carbonate solution as the eluant. Samples for bromate analysis were pretreated by OnGuard-Ag and OnGuard-H cartridges in series before injection. Atrazine degradation was measured by high performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector, with a CH3CN/H2O mixture as the eluant. The linearisation of atrazine removal allowed us to calculate the hydroxyl radical concentration in a series of a completely-stirred tank reactors and in a plug-flow reactor.We have studied the influence of several parameters on bromate formation, including pH, bromide concentration and hydrogen peroxide concentration. As bromate production is a function of bromide concentration, we have chosen to calculate the ratio between the real bromate concentration and the theoretical bromate concentration if all bromide were oxidised to bromate. The pH affects bromate formation: an increase in pH in the absence of hydrogen peroxide increases bromate production, but when this oxidant is applied bromate production decreases when the pH increases. If reaction progress is represented as a function of [O3]*TC, we note that the presence of hydrogen peroxide increases bromate formation because of the increase in hydroxyl radical concentration, which favours radical formation. Nevertheless, if we represent reaction progress as a function of [OH∘]*TC, hydrogen peroxide seems to be an initiator and a scavenger in the mechanism of bromate formation. If we calculate the rates of all the oxidation and reduction reactions for HOBr/OBr- species, the contribution to the reduction of HOBr/OBr- species by peroxide is very important in comparison to the oxidation reactions, which inhibits bromate production. Without the hydrogen peroxide, the contribution of oxidation is equal to that of the reduction reaction, and in this case bromate formation is effective. When, under the same initial operational conditions, we apply hydrogen peroxide with an increase in pH, we observe a decrease in bromate formation with a decrease of the dissolved ozone concentration, which hinders the desired disinfection. The main contribution to atrazine oxidation is from the free-radical reactions, which explains why removal is better when we apply hydrogen peroxide than when we use ozone alone. However, if we want to respect a low bromate level in drinking water, atrazine degradation should not be greater than 90% for the operational conditions on our pilot-scale.If an accidental high pesticide concentration is observed, an addition of hydrogen peroxide with a concurrent increase of pH, could treat the pollution. In this case, a subsequent chlorination step would then have to be used to assure the disinfection alone

The LHC Dipole Geometry as Built in Industry

The LHC dipoles magnets are produced in 5 industrial production sites in Europe. The production is well underway and more than half of the total quantity has been delivered to CERN. One of the important characteristics of the dipole magnets is their geometry. To achieve the requested mechanical tolerances on the magnets, which are 15 m long and have a 28 t mass, the final assembly operations includes precise optical measurements. To ensure the good quality and high production rate, the final assembly procedure has been automated as much as possible. The authors report here about the assembly procedure, the features of the software that guides the optical measurements (and consequently the assembly operations) and the results obtained on the geometry in the different sites