Equipment for testing of cooling loops - ATLAS Upgrade (Instrument Development)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The planned Atlas Upgrade silicon micro-strip detector system will employ an evaporative cooling system similar to the current system, but will utilize CO2 rather than fluorocarbon as the coolant gas in order to improve the heat transfer and coolant-to-wall heat transfer properties for small mass flows. This can be achieved due to the large latent heat capacity of CO2 relative to the existing fluorocarbon gas, however the utilization of this requires operating pressures far in excess of the current pressure system.
As such, with operating pressures in excess of 150bara, it is essential to provide adequate testing of cooling systems to prevent catastrophic failure of the cooling elements. Safety and integrity testing of prototype and final design cooling loops will made possible by the equipment provided by this funding and will demonstrate our strategies to deal with both CO2 coolant leakage and highlight other potential failure sources.
As such, with operating pressures in excess of 150bara, it is essential to provide adequate testing of cooling systems to prevent catastrophic failure of the cooling elements. Safety and integrity testing of prototype and final design cooling loops will made possible by the equipment provided by this funding and will demonstrate our strategies to deal with both CO2 coolant leakage and highlight other potential failure sources.
Planned Impact
Direct beneficiaries of this research is the UK-ATLAS Upgrade Tracker Collaboration. The research data produced by this equipment will allow for further optimisation of current prototype cooling structure and will influence later design improvements by demonstration of long term reliability. Future use of research data produced by this equipment will disseminate through the ATLAS international collaboration and the wider particle physics instrument construction community, allowing the findings to be adapted to take advantage of low mass material improvements such as uses of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics with embedded cooling cores.
Commercial research measurements are anticipated through the ability to construct test (with certification) of low mass pressure handling systems, these are particularly well suited to aerospace and space science who need long term reliability testing in harsh environments.
Commercial research measurements are anticipated through the ability to construct test (with certification) of low mass pressure handling systems, these are particularly well suited to aerospace and space science who need long term reliability testing in harsh environments.
Publications
Dervan P
(2015)
Upgrade to the Birmingham Irradiation Facility
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Description | The following are three key findings previously reported: 1) Weld Sheet Parameters (WPS) database of cooling tubes. This research database gathers all of the welding parameters necessary to weld cooling tubes with outer diameters (OD) 2.275mm with 3.175mm and walls thickness up to 125 micrometres. This database is use to plan the development of the next LHC-ATLAS Upgrade in 2022. 2) Pressure testing equipment for cooling tubes. A pressure platform set-up has been designed and assembled to start testing cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Connectors and welding fittings will be also tested using this platform. This pressure set-up will be used to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. 3) A vacuum platform set-up has been designed and assembled to start testing cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Connectors and welding fittings will be also tested using this platform.This vacuum set-up will be used to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Next, one more key finding to report in this annual research outcomes Submission Period: 4) Thermal testing equipment for cooling tubes. A thermal platform set-up for cooling tubes will be designed and assembled to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Connectors and welding fittings will be also tested using this platform. The thermal platform has been completed and cooling tubes are being tested. Test progress has been published and open access. This thermal set-up is being used to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. |
Exploitation Route | The testing system is now utilised by research groups from the UK-ATLAS, USA-ATLAS and EU-ATLAS communities. The resulting impact has been in the form of enhanced R&D knowledge for the community and prepared the final R&D to allow the mass production of cooling system components to allow the construction of the ATLAS Upgrade Tracking Detector in 2018. |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Description | Non-academic impact resulting from findings of this award is as follows: 1) The testing system is now utilised by research groups from the UK-ATLAS, USA-ATLAS and EU-ATLAS communities of AIDA-2020. 2) The resulting findings have impact on the University been awarded more funding through 'Autonomous aero turbine blade re-manufacturing system' and 'AIDA-2020' grants. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Description | AC Welding Evaluations |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 140754-1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | ATLAS Phase-II Upgrade |
Amount | £494,296 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R002584/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | Pulse Heat Managment Welding System Characterisation |
Amount | £55,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 140754 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Department | National EPR Research Facility and Service Home |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2014 |
End | 04/2015 |
Title | Pressure testing equipment for cooling tubes |
Description | A pressure platform set-up has been designed and assembled to start testing cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Connectors and welding fittings will be also tested using this platform. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This pressure set-up will be used to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. |
Title | Vacuum testing equipment for cooling tubes |
Description | A vacuum platform set-up has been designed and assembled to start testing cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. Connectors and welding fittings will be also tested using this platform. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | This vacuum set-up will be used to test cooling tubes for the ITk-ATLAS update. |
Title | Weld Sheet Parameters (WPS) database of cooling tubes |
Description | This research database gathers all of the welding parameters necessary to weld cooling tubes with outer diameters (OD) 2.275mm with 3.175mm and walls thickness up to 125 micrometres. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | - This database is use to plan the development of the next LHC-ATLAS Upgrade in 2022. |
URL | https://www.hep.shef.ac.uk/research/atlas/servicesEngineering/ |
Description | Cooling System LHC-ATLAS Upgrade |
Organisation | Atlas UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | - Research and Development on welding 2.5mm and 6mm OD Ti Tubes - Access to WPS Database |
Collaborator Contribution | - Partnership to obtain future funding |
Impact | - WPS Database of miniature Ti and SS tubes - Welding next to Electronics |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | ATLAS Upgrade Week - Presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards. Decisions were made on the research approach. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012,2013,2014,2015 |