Commissioning and performance of the cryogenic system of the new test facility for large superconducting devices at CERN

Abstract

CERN has built a new test facility for large and heavy superconducting devices that will be first used for testing the Super-FRS magnets of the FAIR project being built at GSI in Germany. This paper reports on the commissioning results and performance of the cryogenic system. The cryogenic system includes a new compression station coupled to a refurbished 1.2 kW equivalent power at 4.5 K TCF200 helium refrigerator. The cryogenic system contains further a 5 m3 liquid helium dewar, two liquid nitrogen cool-down / warm-up units for precooling to 80 K and warming-up the devices after the tests, and a dedicated cryogenic distribution system consisting of multiple valve boxes and transfer lines to distribute helium to the three test benches.