The LHC Test String 2 is a 107-m long superconducting magnet string representing a full-cell of the LHC machine. It was designed and commissioned at CERN in order to validate the final design choices and to investigate the collective behavior and operation modes of the LHC machine systems. It has been commissioned and operated since April 2001 and has accumulated more than 8000 hours at its nominal operating temperature of 1.9 K under machine-like conditions. We report on the experimental validation of the supercritical and superfluid helium cooling loops, quench propagation and recovery, heat loads, as well as on investigation of operational performances, advanced control techniques, process control, instrumentation and long term behavior under electrical and thermal cycling. ABSTRACTThe LHC Test String 2 is a 107-m long superconducting magnet string representing a full-cell of the LHC machine. It was designed and commissioned at CERN in order to validate the final design choices and to investigate the collective behavior and operation modes of the LHC machine systems. It has been commissioned and operated since April 2001 and has accumulated more than 8000 hours at its nominal operating temperature of 1.9 K under machine-like conditions. We report on the experimental validation of the supercritical and superfluid helium cooling loops, quench propagation and recovery, heat loads, as well as on investigation of operational performances, advanced control techniques, process control, instrumentation and long term behavior under electrical and thermal cycling.

The largest cryogenic test facility at CERN, located at Zone 18, is used to validate and to test all main components working at cryogenic temperature in the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) before final installation in the machine tunnel. In total about 1300 main dipoles, 400 main quadrupoles, 5 RF-modules, eight 1.8 K refrigeration units will be tested in the coming years. The test facility has been improved and upgraded over the last few years and the first 18 kW refrigerator for the LHC machine has been added to boost the cryogenic capacity for the area via a 25,000 liter liquid helium dewar. The existing 6 kW refrigerator, used for the LHC Test String experiments, will also be employed to commission LHC cryogenic components. We report on the design and layout of the test facility as well as the commissioning and the first 10,000 hours operational experience of the test facility and the 18 kW LHC refrigerator. ABSTRACTThe largest cryogenic test facility at CERN, located at Zone 18, is used to validate and to test all main components working at cryogenic temperature in the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) before final installation in the machine tunnel. In total about 1300 main dipoles, 400 main quadrupoles, 5 RF-modules, eight 1.8 K refrigeration units will be tested in the coming years.The test facility has been improved and upgraded over the last few years and the first 18 kW refrigerator for the LHC machine has been added to boost the cryogenic capacity for the area via a 25,000 liter liquid helium dewar. The existing 6 kW refrigerator, used for the LHC Test String experiments, will also be employed to commission LHC cryogenic components.We report on the design and layout of the test facility as well as the commissioning and the first 10,000 hours operational experience of the test facility and the 18 kW LHC refrigerator.

The cryogenic system for the Large Hadron Collider accelerator is presently in its final phase of installation and commissioning at nominal operating temperatures. The refrigeration capacity for the LHC will be produced using eight large cryogenic plants installed on five technical sites and distributed around the 26.7-km circumference ring located in a deep underground tunnel. The status of the cryogenic system commissioning is presented together with the experience gained in operating and commissioning it. ABSTRACTThe cryogenic system for the Large Hadron Collider accelerator is presently in its final phase of installation and commissioning at nominal operating temperatures. The refrigeration capacity for the LHC will be produced using eight large cryogenic plants installed on five technical sites and distributed around the 26.7-km circumference ring located in a deep underground tunnel. The status of the cryogenic system commissioning is presented together with the experience gained in operating and commissioning it.