Next steps for the FAIR ring accelerator: From production to installation
06.11.2020 |
The next decisive milestones for the FAIR ring accelerator SIS100 are set: While the structural work on the construction site is progressing and the development and production of the high-tech components for the future FAIR accelerator center is running simultaneously, another crucial aspect is now moving more and more into focus: the assembly of the accelerator machine in the new buildings.
Although the current focus is still on the procurement of accelerator components, the first important steps towards machine assembly are currently being taken. The SIS100/SIS18 project group, consisting of the work package leaders, representatives of international providers and the subproject management, had placed their latest three-day closed meeting under the motto "From production to installation". Representatives of the new subproject "Site Management SMG" were also involved with the aim of jointly preparing the next phase of the project realization.
In which sequences should the installation of the machine take place? What is the best sequence for assembling the accelerator components? How will the heavy parts be moved to their correct position in the new buildings? These are just a few of the questions to be answered with high precision. The focus is on the production of ready-to-install assemblies, the construction and testing of a complete SIS100 unit cell consisting of two dipole, two quadrupole and several correction magnets, the development of transport and lifting equipment and the consideration of technology-specific boundary conditions when defining installation sequences. In addition, other important milestones such as the completion of the technical building services (TGA), the completion of central facilities, the delivery dates and the readiness for installation of all accelerator components must be included in the planning.
Special attention is given to cryogenics. The ring accelerator SIS100 requires superconducting magnets to guide the extremely fast particles. Superconductivity can only be achieved with sophisticated cryotechnology: It has to constantly maintain a cryogenic temperature of -268.6 °C throughout the SIS100 ring system, which is required for operation.
The installation of such cryogenic systems, cryomagnetic modules and local cryogenics requires special quality assurance measures. European directives must be complied with, for example the Pressure Equipment Directive, which is applied to numerous work steps.
Therefore, the recent meeting of the project group and the new subproject also discussed ways to efficiently exploit the extended installation phase of cryogenic systems by starting the hardware commissioning of warm systems in parallel. Efficient planning for the installation and commissioning of the individual technical systems is a precondition for timely cold commissioning, as well as for the commissioning of the main power supply in conjunction with the then superconducting magnetic chain.
Overall, these complex plans are driven by a decisive goal: the realization of a first pilot beam through SIS100, the heart of the future FAIR accelerator center. (BP)
