A Finite Element Model for Mechanical Analysis of LHC Main Dipole Magnet Coils

After years of studies and observations, the mechanical stability of the LHC main dipole magnets still remains an open issue. The robustness of these magnets has already been asserted and their reliability in operation is not far from being proven. However, anomalous mechanical behaviors sometimes observed are not yet completely understood. A finite element model, which has been recently developed at CERN, aims at providing an instrument for better explaining these anomalies. Cable modeling and contact between elements, friction and mechanical hysteresis are the key features of this model. The simulation of the hysteresis experienced by the coil during collaring, presented here, is the starting point for the representation of the whole life cycle of the dipole coil

An off-momentum beam loss feedback controller and graphical user interface for the LHC

During LHC operation, a campaign to validate the configuration of the LHC collimation system is conducted every few months. This is performed by means of loss maps, where specific beam losses are voluntarily generated with the resulting loss patterns compared to expectations. The LHC collimators have to protect the machine from both betatron and off-momentum losses. In order to validate the off-momentum protection, beam losses are generated by shifting the RF frequency using a low intensity beam. This is a delicate process that, in the past, often led to the beam being dumped due to excessive losses. To avoid this, a feed-back system based on the100 Hz data stream from the LHC Beam Loss system has been implemented. When given a target RF frequency, the feedback system approaches this frequency in steps while monitoring the losses until the selected loss pattern conditions are reached, so avoiding the excessive losses that lead to a beam dump. This paper will describe the LHC off-momentum beam loss feedback system and the results achieved.peer-reviewe

Quench tests at the Large Hadron Collider with collimation losses at 3.5 Z TeV

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has been operating since 2010 at 3.5 TeV and 4.0 TeV without experiencing quenches induced by losses from circulating beams. This situation might change at 7 TeV where the quench margins in the super-conducting magnets are reduced. The critical locations are the dispersion suppressors (DSs) at either side of the cleaning and experimental insertions, where dispersive losses are maximum. It is therefore crucial to understand the quench limits with beam loss distributions alike those occurring in standard operation. In order to address this aspect, quench tests were performed by inducing large beam losses on the primary collimators of the betatron cleaning insertion, for proton and lead ion beams of 3.5 Z TeV, to probe the quench limits of the DS magnets. Losses up to 500 kW were achieved without quenches. The measurement technique and the results obtained are presented, with observations of heat loads in the cryogenics system.peer-reviewe

A finite element model of the LHC dipole cold mass with hysteretic, non-linear behavior and single turn description:towards the interpretation of magnet quenches

In one of its acceptation, the word quench is synonym of destruction. And this is even more consistent with reality in the case of the Large Hadron Collider dipole magnets, whose magnetic field and stored energy are unprecedented: the uncontrolled transition from the superconducting to the resistive state can be the origin of dramatic events. This is why the protection of magnets is so important, and why so many studies and investigations have been carried out on quench origin. The production, cold testing and installation of the 1232 arc dipole magnets is completed. They have fulfilled all the requirements and the operation reliability of these magnets has already been partially confirmed. From an academic standpoint, nevertheless, the anomalous mechanical behaviour, which was sometimes observed during power tests, has not yet been given a clear explanation. The work presented in this thesis aims at providing an instrument to better understand the reasons for such anomalies, by means of finite element modelling of the cross-section of the dipole cold mass. During the investigation on quench phenomenology and its characterization, a distinction can be done between the two main quench origins during cold test without beam: the local degradation of the conductor and the frictional heating resulting from mechanical disturbances (such as conductor motion under the effects of the Lorentz forces). Concerning the second type, it is illustrated how important a good positioning of the cables is in a magnet cross-section and which is the fundamental role of azimuthal pre-stress. There are numerous studies of the consequences of conductor motion under the effect of electro-magnetic forces and of the loss of pre-stress during energization. However, no model has ever been able to reproduce in detail and predict such phenomena. The present model, developed in ANSYS® environment, was initiated with the idea of representing the real behaviour of an LHC-type dipole coil, by taking into account each turn individually, reproducing the non-linear and hysteretic mechanical behaviour observed on a stack of insulated cables and inserting friction between mating surfaces. The representation of the mechanical complexity of the composite material is certainly one of the originalities of this study. To validate the model, a comparison with elastic modulus measurements, systematically performed in industry, was carried out, both for single layers and for assembled poles. The agreement is certainly worth the effort lavished and justifies the following steps in simulation, which are the modelling of the collaring mechanism and the cool-down process. These are other important and original elements. The last one, in particular, requires progressively changing the mechanical properties of the superconductor, following the temperature profile. This implied some simplifications to comply with the enhanced convergence difficulties, but does not invalidate the goodness of the description and the results obtained. This is a faithful reproduction of a magnet life-cycle, uncommon in this kind of studies

SMAAC LS1 - Last overheated splice consolidation

Last overheated splice consolidatio

A finite element model of the LHC dipole cold mass with hysteretic, non-linear behavior and single turn description: towards the interpretation of magnet quenches

In one of its acceptation, the word quench is synonym of destruction. And this is even more consistent with reality in the case of the Large Hadron Collider dipole magnets, whose magnetic field and stored energy are unprecedented: the uncontrolled transition from the superconducting to the resistive state can be the origin of dramatic events. This is why the protection of magnets is so important, and why so many studies and investigations have been carried out on quench origin. The production, cold testing and installation of the 1232 arc dipole magnets is completed. They have fulfilled all the requirements and the operation reliability of these magnets has already been partially confirmed. From an academic standpoint, nevertheless, the anomalous mechanical behaviour, which was sometimes observed during power tests, has not yet been given a clear explanation. The work presented in this thesis aims at providing an instrument to better understand the reasons for such anomalies, by means of finite element modelling of the cross-section of the dipole cold mass. During the investigation on quench phenomenology and its characterization, a distinction can be done between the two main quench origins during cold test without beam: the local degradation of the conductor and the frictional heating resulting from mechanical disturbances (such as conductor motion under the effects of the Lorentz forces). Concerning the second type, it is illustrated how important a good positioning of the cables is in a magnet cross-section and which is the fundamental role of azimuthal pre-stress. There are numerous studies of the consequences of conductor motion under the effect of electro-magnetic forces and of the loss of pre-stress during energization. However, no model has ever been able to reproduce in detail and predict such phenomena. The present model, developed in ANSYS® environment, was initiated with the idea of representing the real behaviour of an LHC-type dipole coil, by taking into account each turn individually, reproducing the non-linear and hysteretic mechanical behaviour observed on a stack of insulated cables and inserting friction between mating surfaces. The representation of the mechanical complexity of the composite material is certainly one of the originalities of this study. To validate the model, a comparison with elastic modulus measurements, systematically performed in industry, was carried out, both for single layers and for assembled poles. The agreement is certainly worth the effort lavished and justifies the following steps in simulation, which are the modelling of the collaring mechanism and the cool-down process. These are other important and original elements. The last one, in particular, requires progressively changing the mechanical properties of the superconductor, following the temperature profile. This implied some simplifications to comply with the enhanced convergence difficulties, but does not invalidate the goodness of the description and the results obtained. This is a faithful reproduction of a magnet life-cycle, uncommon in this kind of studies

LHC Machine: Status and Plan

The LHC Run I was successfully concluded in March 2012. An incredible amount of data has been collected and the performance continuously improved during these three years. Important information on the limitations of the machine also emerged, which will be used to further increase the potential of the machine in the coming years

LHC Status and Plans (Including Upgrades)

The results of the LHC during the last year of operation of Run I are shown (updated to the date of the conference). Particular attention is put on the limits of the machine , to the solutions to reduce their impact and the plan to fix them, together with a long planning for improvement of the performanc

SMAAC LS1 - last standard insulation in the LHC

SMAAC LS1 - last standard insulation in the LH