Design Considerations and Experience of the RHIC Dual Magnet Cryostat Installation

Abstract

The first RHIC Dual Magnet installation, of eight (8) cold masses in one vacuum vessel, has been completed. Design of the system included the requirement for assembly on location, the need for individual three-direction alignment capability at each cold mass cradle, a fixed position cradle for the entire assembly, longitudinal slide capability for all other cradles, two thermally isolated heat shields, accessible electrical splice boxes, removable interconnects, removability of individual cold mass sections, flexible supply lines for electrical power and cryogenic services and external loads imposed from the supply services. Initially two of the twelve total assemblies were fabricated for the Sextant Test of the RHIC ring. This paper covers an overview of that effort from initial design considerations, fabrication/installation techniques, initial installation problems and the final design solutions.