Abstract
Cryostats contain large cold surfaces, cryogenic fluids, and sometimes large stored energy (e.g. energized magnets), with the potential risk of sudden liberation of energy through thermodynamic transformations of the fluids, which can be uncontrolled and lead to a dangerous increase of pressure inside the cryostat envelopes. The consequence, in the case of a rupture of the envelopes, may be serious for personnel (injuries from deflagration, burns, and oxygen deficiency hazard) as well as for the equipment. Performing a thorough risk analysis is an essential step to identify and understand risk hazards that may cause a pressure increase and in order to assess consequences, define mitigation actions, and design adequate safety relief devices to limit pressure accordingly. Lessons learnt from real cases are essential for improving safety awareness for future projects. We cover in this paper our experience on cryostats at CERN and the design-for-safety rules in place.
Highlights
At CERN, helium is the coolant of choice for operating high field superconducting magnets and accelerating radio-frequency cavities in particle accelerators like the LHC, as well as for the superconducting magnets of its particle detectors like ATLAS and CMS
Cryostats for a variety of applications have been designed and constructed at CERN for which an expertise in the field of cryogenic safety has been established, based on lessons learned from experience, and which is being capitalized on the design and construction of new equipment
Like in the cryo-modules for the HIE Isolde [4], cavity cleanliness requires assembly in clean rooms and multi-layer insulation cannot be employed for thermal insulation, large bare cold surfaces remain exposed to the highest heat fluxes and helium boil-off in case of accidental venting of the cryostat to atmosphere
Summary
- Cryogenic upgrade of the low heat load liquid helium cryostat used to house the Cryogenic Current Comparator in the Antiproton Decelerator at CERN A Lees, T Koettig, M Fernandes et al. - Design and optimisation of low heat load liquid helium cryostat to house cryogenic current comparator in antiproton decelerator at CERN A. - Safety studies on vacuum insulated liquid helium cryostats C Weber, A Henriques, C Zoller et al
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