A Machine Protection Risk Management Method for Complex Systems

Accelerator-based research facilities play a key role in modern research, where they increasingly push the technical limits. At the same time, they aim at competing with industrial and nuclear research facilities in performance metrics such as availability. This thesis develops a risk management method currently integrated into the design and early commissioning phases of an accelerator-based facility, in order to prevent damage and avoid costly repairs and long downtimes. The method uses the machine protection concept to implement its functionality, as machine protection has proven extremely useful in contemporary accelerators. As opposed to the field of machine safety, the field of machine protection does not have any standardized methods to apply. The many similarities between safety and protection still causes many of the existing standards to be a useful basis in developing a functional protection method. This thesis combines pragmatism and four existing standards into a risk management method for complex systems in general, and particle accelerators in particular. The method is currently applied to the protection of the European Spallation Source

Challenges in Technical Risk Management for High-Power Accelerators

The increasing demands on accelerator-based research facilities to be both reliable and cost-efficient require comprehensive risk management that takes the full scope of the facility into account. Due to the organizational and technical complexity of these facilities, a systematic risk management method is beneficial, if not necessary. However, many other aspects, aside from reliability and cost-efficiency, also call for great attention. This paper discusses the many challenges that are faced when dealing with technical risk management of accelerator facilities, as these efforts are often considered second to e.g. beam parameters and operational schedule. The paper uses the design and construction of the European Spallation Source in Sweden as a basis, but many of the contradictory aspects have been found in other similar facilities around the world. Some of the challenges for technical risk management that are discussed relate to rapid organizational expansion, pressing schedule, knowledge biases, and conflicts of interest

Development and Realisation of the ESS Machine Protection Concept

ESS is facing extremely high beam availability requirements and is largely relying on custom made, very specialised, and expensive equipment for its operation. The proton beam power with an average of 5MW per pulse will be unprecedented and its uncontrolled release can lead to serious damage of the delicate equipment, causing long shutdown periods, inducing high financial losses and, as a main point, interfering drastically with international scientific research programs relying on ESS operation. Implementing a fit-for-purpose machine protection concept is one of the key challenges in order to mitigate these risks. The development and realisation of the measures needed to implement such concept to the correct level in case of a complex facility like the ESS, requires a systematic approach, and will be discussed in this paper