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Twenty-Three Kilometres of Superfluid Helium Cryostats for the Superconducting Magnets of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

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Cryostat Design

Part of the book series: International Cryogenics Monograph Series ((ICMS))

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Abstract

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN is the world’s largest scientific instrument. The 1600 “high-field” superconducting magnets that make up the 23 km circumference accelerator ring represent the largest use of superfluid helium (He II) to date. This chapter describes the design evolution of the LHC magnet cryostats with particular emphasis on the He II cooling system, thermal insulation system and structural supports. Prototype testing, series production, installation and commissioning of these cryostats is also discussed. Numerous figures and tables illustrate the cryostat and present performance results.

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Acknowledgments

Having been involved in this work from the onset, the author has tried to convey his strong conviction that the success of LHC cryostats is the result of teamwork by many contributors at CERN, in partner laboratories and in industry. A number of them appear as co-authors in the reference list below. The expertise, dedication and hard work of all should be acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva, Switzerland

    Philippe Lebrun

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  1. Philippe Lebrun
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Correspondence to Philippe Lebrun .

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  1. European Spallation Source ESS AB, Lund, Sweden

    J.G. Weisend II

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Lebrun, P. (2016). Twenty-Three Kilometres of Superfluid Helium Cryostats for the Superconducting Magnets of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In: Weisend II, J. (eds) Cryostat Design. International Cryogenics Monograph Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31150-0_3

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