Mechanical stability of the LHC dipole-dipole 50-75K thermal shield interconnect: "floating" expansion joint concept

The LHC dipole cryostats are equipped with thermal shields carrying super-insulation. A cold helium transfer line equipped with expansion joints is integrated into the shield carrying trays (aluminium profiles supported on three composite feet). The stainless steel (316 L) expansion joints compensate for thermal contraction/expansion of the aluminium panels as well as for their misalignment. Design of the LHC thermal shield interconnect is based on the "floating" expansion joint concept (distance between the supports is of around 5 m). The present paper is dedicated to the analysis of mechanical stability of this large span system working at room and at cryogenic temperatures

Thermo-mechanical Analysis of Cold Helium Injection into Gas Storage Tanks made of Carbon Steel Following Resistive Transition of the LHC Magnets

A resistive transition (quench) of the LHC sector magnets will be followed by cold helium venting to a quench buffer volume of 2000 m3 at ambient temperature. The volume will be composed of eight medi um-pressure (2 MPa) gas storage tanks made of carbon steel, which constrains the temperature of the wall to be higher than -50oC (223 K). The aim of the analysis is the assessment of a possible spot c ooling intensity and thermo-mechanical stresses in the tank wall following helium injection

Plastic Strain Induced Damage Evolution and Martensitic Transformation in Ductile Materials at Cryogenic Temperatures

The Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steels are well known for their ductile behaviour at cryogenic temperatures. This implies development and evolution of plastic strain fields in the stainless steel components subjected to thermo-mechanical loads at low temperatures. The evolution of plastic strain fields is usually associated with two phenomena: ductile damage and strain induced martensitic transformation. Ductile damage is described by the kinetic law of damage evolution. Here, the assumption of isotropic distribution of damage (microcracks and microvoids) in the Representative Volume Element (RVE) is made. Formation of the plastic strain induced martensite (irreversible process) leads to the presence of quasi-rigid inclusions of martensite in the austenitic matrix. The amount of martensite platelets in the RVE depends on the intensity of the plastic strain fields and on the temperature. The evolution of the volume fraction of martensite is governed by a kinetic law based on the accumulated plastic strain. Both of these irreversible phenomena, associated with the dissipation of plastic power, are included into the constitutive model of stainless steels at cryogenic temperatures. The model is tested on the thin-walled corrugated shells (known as bellows expansion joints) used in the interconnections of the Large Hadron Collider, the new proton storage ring being constructed at present at CERN

Mechanical Behaviour of the LHC Cryodipoles

The LHC cryodipoles are slender and heavy objects more than 15-m long. The major components of the cryodipole assembly are the 28-tonne cold mass, supported on its three Glass-Fibre-Reinforced-Epoxy support posts and the 4-tonne vacuum vessel. The performance of the LHC depends very much upon the accurate positioning of the dipoles and the beam tubes, in particular to maximise the useful beam apertures. The cryodipoles will be conditioned and measured in surface assembly buildings, then handled and transported to their positions in the tunnel and, finally, aligned. This paper presents the static and dynamic studies of the cryodipole in different configurations. The tests and analyses carried out have led to a thorough understanding of the mechanical behaviour of the cryodipoles. From the static analysis, an hyperstatic supporting system is proposed in order to minimise the systematic deflections and the effects due to changing temperature conditions in the tunnel. The dynamic analysis has shown that the cryodipole resonates at a series of very low natural frequencies and, moreover, shows a low damping value. Since the dynamic loads during transport and handling are in the low frequency range, the cryodipole components are potentially susceptible to damage. Simulations have included the truck suspension for road transport and the lifting device for handling with a crane. Solutions coping with the transport and handling conditions are presented

Layout and Design of the Auxiliary Bus-Bar Line for the LHC Arc Main Cryostat

The superconducting multipole magnets housed in the cold mass of the LHC arc short straight sections, together with the arc dispersion suppressor and matching section quadrupole magnets, will be electrically fed along the 3 km arcs via 600 A and 6 kA superconducting flexible cables. These will be routed into a tube running parallel to the cold masses, placed inside their cryostat [1], from power converters located at each of the 16 arc extremities. The superconducting 53.5 m cable segments will be inserted in the pipeline at machine installation time in the tunnel, thus limiting the number of useless electrical interconnections to the minimum necessary. Cryogenically connected to the 1.9 K superfluid helium vessel of the cold masses at each main quadrupole location, this so-called auxiliary bus-bar tube (EAB) will be thermally and mechanically separated from the magnet main stream. The general layout of the pipeline, its thermo mechanical functional specification and the tight cryogenic, mechanical, electrical, interface and geometrical constraints imposed by the LHC arc cryostat are presented, together with its detailed design

Thermal Performance of the LHC External Auxiliary Bus-Bar Tube: Mathematical Modelling

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) externally routed auxiliary bus-bar tube (EAB) will house the electrical feeders of the LHC short straight section (SSS) correcting magnets. The superconducting wires w ill be contained in a stainless steel tube and immersed in a quasi-static helium bath. The EAB thermal performance during the cooling of the magnets down to the operating temperature of 1.9 K is studi ed. A 3-d finite element thermal model of the EAB during a cooling process from 293 K to 4.5 K is described. The semi-analytical model of the EAB cool-down from 4.5 K to 1.9 K is also presented

The Interconnections of the LHC Cryomagnets

The main components of the LHC, the next world-class facility in high-energy physics, are the twin-aperture high-field superconducting cryomagnets to be installed in the existing 26.7-km long tunnel. After installation and alignment, the cryomagnets have to be interconnected. The interconnections must ensure the continuity of several functions: vacuum enclosures, beam pipe image currents (RF contacts), cryogenic circuits, electrical power supply, and thermal insulation. In the machine, about 1700 interconnections between cryomagnets are necessary. The interconnections constitute a unique system that is nearly entirely assembled in the tunnel. For each of them, various operations must be done: TIG welding of cryogenic channels (~ 50 000 welds), induction soldering of main superconducting cables (~ 10 000 joints), ultrasonic welding of auxiliary superconducting cables (~ 20 000 welds), mechanical assembly of various elements, and installation of the multi-layer insulation (~ 200 000 m2). Defective junctions could be very difficult and expensive to detect and repair. Reproducible and reliable processes must be implemented together with a strict quality control. The interconnection activities are optimized taking into account several constraints: limited space availability, tight installation schedule, high level of quality, high reliability and economical aspects. In this paper, the functions to be fulfilled by the interconnections and the various technologies selected are presented. Quality control at different levels (component/ interconnect, subsystem, system) is also described. The interconnection assembly sequences are summarized. Finally, the validation of the interconnection procedures is presented, based in particular on the LHC prototype cell assembly (STRING2)

The Insulation Vacuum Barrier for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Magnet Cryostats

The sectorisation of the insulation vacuum of the LHC magnet cryostats, housing the superconducting magnets, which operate in a 1.9 K superfluid helium bath, is achieved by means of vacuum barriers. Each vacuum barrier is a leak-tight austenitic stainless steel thin-wall structure, mainly composed of large diameter (between 0.6 m and 0.9 m) bellows and concentric corrugated cylinders. It is mounted in the Short Straight Section (SSS) [1], between the magnet helium enclosure and the vacuum vessel. This paper presents the design of the vacuum barrier, concentrating mostly on its expected thermal performance, to fulfil the tight LHC heat in-leak budgets. Pressure and leak test results, confirming the mechanical design of two prototypes manufactured in industry, and the preparation of one of these vacuum barriers for cryogenic testing in an SSS prototype, are also mentioned

Update of the LHC Arc Cryostat Systems Layouts and Integration

Since the LHC Conceptual Design report's publication in October 1995 [1], and subsequent evolutions [2], the LHC Arc Cryostat System has undergone recently a number of significant changes, dictated by the natural evolution of the project. Most noteworthy are the recent decisions to route the large number of auxiliary circuits feeding the arc corrector magnets in a separate tube placed inside the cryostat with connections to the magnets every half-cell. Further decisions concern simplification of the baseline vacuum and cryogenic sectorization, the finalization of the design of the arc cryogenic modules and the layout of the arc electrical distribution feedboxes. The most recent features of the highly intricate cryogenics, magnetic, vacuum and electrical distribution systems of the LHC are presente

Beam Vacuum Interconnects for the LHC Cold Arcs

The design of the beam vacuum interconnect is described in this paper. Features include a novel RF bridge design to maximise lateral flexibility during cryostat Cold arcs of the LHC will consist of twin aperture dipole, quadrupole and corrector magnets in cryostats, operating at 1.9 K. Beam vacuum chambers, along with all connecting elements require flexible 'interconnects' between adjacent cryostats to allow for thermal and mechanical offsets foreseen during machine operation and alignment. In addition, the beam vacuum chambers contain perforated beam screens to intercept beam induced heat loads at an intermediate temperature. These must also be connected with low impedance RF bridges in the interconnect zones.alignment and so-called 'nested' bellows to minimise the required length of the assembly