Vacuum Pressure Impregnation Setup at CERN for Nb3Sn Coils

Abstract

The CERN Large Magnet Facility (LMF) is currently producing 5.5 m long 11 Tesla dipole and 7.2 m long MQXFB quadrupole coils for the HL-LHC project. Both coil types are fabricated with Nb3Sn conductor with the so-called wind and react technique. These coils require a vacuum pressure impregnation process to form the final insulation and to give the final dimensions. The paper will present the impregnation process applied at CERN focusing in particular on the hardware. The impregnation process and its reproducibility are shown, together with ongoing developments. Furthermore, the LMF impregnation infrastructure and recent applied upgrades are described, aiming for a reliable process workflow based on a modular hardware with an improved interchangeability.