Marla Cervantes wrote:

Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Wednesday, January 29 2020, 05:55   A P2N container  with heat shields, and with a UO2/C loaded graphite container was installed in the EVAP1 Chamber is currently being evacuated. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 08:56 Pressure limits: Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr Initial pressure:  IGP1=1.52e-6Torr Current ramp set to 1A/min to 10 A, voltage is stable. Current ramp increased to 1A/10s to 100 A. The pressure started raising around 80 A. Current was kept 5min at at 100 A, voltage was stable Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:32  Current ramp set to 1A/20s to 150 A (same pressure limits) Pressure keep increasing during heating Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:53  Current was kept at 150 min during 5 min, the voltage is stable, pressure started to stabilize: IGP1 = 0.027 Torr TGHT = 0.418 V Ramp set to 1A/min to 200 A. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:02 Pressure decreasing: TGHT= 153 A   Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:15 At 155 A while pressure decreasing, the power supply tripped off, Controls has been notified, waiting for instructions.    Thursday, January 30, 2020, 11:51 Controls respond "It looks like the power supplies were tripped by either the pirani gauge (IEVAP:IGP1) or the Nuclear vent or by both. But, it did not look like that the interlock tree latched the bad condition when the power supplies tripped. I modified the PLC to properly latch the cause of the trip." and gave green light to restart the carbothermal reduction.  Thursday, January 30, 2020, 13:09 IGP1=5.9e-6Torr Ramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A Pressure rising too fast at 200 A, current reduced manually to 190 A Pressure start dropping and system tripped, notify to controls again, "The strip tool shows the vacuum level shoot down to 0 then shoot back up for a quick second but that is enough to tell the PLC that IGP is “bad”" Thursday, January 30, 2020, 15:58  Restarting process to try to trip the system on purpose  Initial pressure IGP1 = 2.7e-6Torr Ramp set to 1/A/10s to 200 A, 0.59 V Ramp set to 2A/10s to 300 A Max pressure during process IGP1 = 0.03 Torr Voltage increased and stabilized (see voltage rising). Ramp kept at 2A/10s to 400 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 16:48  TGHT = 1.54 V, 399.744 A IGP1 = 0.00016 Torr and going down Ramp set to 2A/10s to 500 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 17:02  TGHT= 1.9V, 499.2 A IGP1 = 0.00014 Torr Ramp set to 2A/10s to 600 A Ramp set to 0.5 A/min to 700 A, ramp stopped at 680 A Manually tapped to 697 A Pressure dropping indicated that carbothermal reduction is done. Unfortunately, the system did not trip.  Contact Gelo for the  next run, such that he can monitor the system and we can spot the problem.

 Friday, January 31, 2020, 15:35

The EVP1 was vent with Ar and the P2N target was transferred to the glove box.

 Replacement of electronic / controller head from INIFICON - BPG to Agilent - Model: FRG-730 due to EVAP 1 trips.

Monday, June 01, 2020, 09:37: Swap complete. 

 Replacement of electronic / controller head from INIFICON - BPG to Agilent - Model: FRG-730 due to EVAP 1 trips.

Marla Cervantes wrote:

Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Wednesday, January 29 2020, 05:55   A P2N container  with heat shields, and with a UO2/C loaded graphite container was installed in the EVAP1 Chamber is currently being evacuated. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 08:56 Pressure limits: Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr Initial pressure:  IGP1=1.52e-6Torr Current ramp set to 1A/min to 10 A, voltage is stable. Current ramp increased to 1A/10s to 100 A. The pressure started raising around 80 A. Current was kept 5min at at 100 A, voltage was stable Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:32  Current ramp set to 1A/20s to 150 A (same pressure limits) Pressure keep increasing during heating Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:53  Current was kept at 150 min during 5 min, the voltage is stable, pressure started to stabilize: IGP1 = 0.027 Torr TGHT = 0.418 V Ramp set to 1A/min to 200 A. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:02 Pressure decreasing: TGHT= 153 A   Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:15 At 155 A while pressure decreasing, the power supply tripped off, Controls has been notified, waiting for instructions.    Thursday, January 30, 2020, 11:51 Controls respond "It looks like the power supplies were tripped by either the pirani gauge (IEVAP:IGP1) or the Nuclear vent or by both. But, it did not look like that the interlock tree latched the bad condition when the power supplies tripped. I modified the PLC to properly latch the cause of the trip." and gave green light to restart the carbothermal reduction.  Thursday, January 30, 2020, 13:09 IGP1=5.9e-6Torr Ramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A Pressure rising too fast at 200 A, current reduced manually to 190 A Pressure start dropping and system tripped, notify to controls again, "The strip tool shows the vacuum level shoot down to 0 then shoot back up for a quick second but that is enough to tell the PLC that IGP is “bad”" Thursday, January 30, 2020, 15:58  Restarting process to try to trip the system on purpose  Initial pressure IGP1 = 2.7e-6Torr Ramp set to 1/A/10s to 200 A, 0.59 V Ramp set to 2A/10s to 300 A Max pressure during process IGP1 = 0.03 Torr Voltage increased and stabilized (see voltage rising). Ramp kept at 2A/10s to 400 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 16:48  TGHT = 1.54 V, 399.744 A IGP1 = 0.00016 Torr and going down Ramp set to 2A/10s to 500 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 17:02  TGHT= 1.9V, 499.2 A IGP1 = 0.00014 Torr Ramp set to 2A/10s to 600 A Ramp set to 0.5 A/min to 700 A, ramp stopped at 680 A Manually tapped to 697 A Pressure dropping indicated that carbothermal reduction is done. Unfortunately, the system did not trip.  Contact Gelo for the  next run, such that he can monitor the system and we can spot the problem.  Friday, January 31, 2020, 15:35 The EVP1 was vent with Ar and the P2N target was transferred to the glove box.

 Thursday, August 13, 2020, 14:33

XRD analysis of the P2N material showed that the carbothermal reduction was not completed

The material was loaded again in its oven, new Ta caps where secured to the edges, the body remained the same

The oven was set in the EVAP1 using Ar to avoid oxidation of the P2N material

Currently pumping down.

 Saturday, August 15, 2020, 14:45 

Vacuum is having a strange behavior, pressure shows that is going from 8e-11 to 4e-6 Torr (fig. 200815-Vaccum_P2N)

Proceeded to turn off turbo pump

Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:38

The IGP1 head was replaced with the EVAP1's IGP1 head

The vacuum will be started again

 INIFICON -  BPG - SN: 232

PN: 353-573

Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:38: Control head for IGP1 swapped with bagged one.

Had been roughing.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 12:37: Turbo pump on. 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 12:54: Vacuum @ 1.28e-05T & dropping. 

Marla Cervantes wrote:

Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Marla Cervantes wrote: Wednesday, January 29 2020, 05:55   A P2N container  with heat shields, and with a UO2/C loaded graphite container was installed in the EVAP1 Chamber is currently being evacuated. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 08:56 Pressure limits: Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr Initial pressure:  IGP1=1.52e-6Torr Current ramp set to 1A/min to 10 A, voltage is stable. Current ramp increased to 1A/10s to 100 A. The pressure started raising around 80 A. Current was kept 5min at at 100 A, voltage was stable Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:32  Current ramp set to 1A/20s to 150 A (same pressure limits) Pressure keep increasing during heating Thursday, January 30, 2020, 09:53  Current was kept at 150 min during 5 min, the voltage is stable, pressure started to stabilize: IGP1 = 0.027 Torr TGHT = 0.418 V Ramp set to 1A/min to 200 A. Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:02 Pressure decreasing: TGHT= 153 A   Thursday, January 30, 2020, 10:15 At 155 A while pressure decreasing, the power supply tripped off, Controls has been notified, waiting for instructions.    Thursday, January 30, 2020, 11:51 Controls respond "It looks like the power supplies were tripped by either the pirani gauge (IEVAP:IGP1) or the Nuclear vent or by both. But, it did not look like that the interlock tree latched the bad condition when the power supplies tripped. I modified the PLC to properly latch the cause of the trip." and gave green light to restart the carbothermal reduction.  Thursday, January 30, 2020, 13:09 IGP1=5.9e-6Torr Ramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A Pressure rising too fast at 200 A, current reduced manually to 190 A Pressure start dropping and system tripped, notify to controls again, "The strip tool shows the vacuum level shoot down to 0 then shoot back up for a quick second but that is enough to tell the PLC that IGP is “bad”" Thursday, January 30, 2020, 15:58  Restarting process to try to trip the system on purpose  Initial pressure IGP1 = 2.7e-6Torr Ramp set to 1/A/10s to 200 A, 0.59 V Ramp set to 2A/10s to 300 A Max pressure during process IGP1 = 0.03 Torr Voltage increased and stabilized (see voltage rising). Ramp kept at 2A/10s to 400 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 16:48  TGHT = 1.54 V, 399.744 A IGP1 = 0.00016 Torr and going down Ramp set to 2A/10s to 500 A Thursday, January 30, 2020, 17:02  TGHT= 1.9V, 499.2 A IGP1 = 0.00014 Torr Ramp set to 2A/10s to 600 A Ramp set to 0.5 A/min to 700 A, ramp stopped at 680 A Manually tapped to 697 A Pressure dropping indicated that carbothermal reduction is done. Unfortunately, the system did not trip.  Contact Gelo for the  next run, such that he can monitor the system and we can spot the problem.  Friday, January 31, 2020, 15:35 The EVP1 was vent with Ar and the P2N target was transferred to the glove box.  Thursday, August 13, 2020, 14:33 XRD analysis of the P2N material showed that the carbothermal reduction was not completed The material was loaded again in its oven, new Ta caps where secured to the edges, the body remained the same The oven was set in the EVAP1 using Ar to avoid oxidation of the P2N material Currently pumping down.  Saturday, August 15, 2020, 14:45  Vacuum is having a strange behavior, pressure shows that is going from 8e-11 to 4e-6 Torr (fig. 200815-Vaccum_P2N) Proceeded to turn off turbo pump Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 10:38 The IGP1 head was replaced with the EVAP1's IGP1 head The vacuum will be started again

 Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 20:44

The pressure reading are normal after swapping the IGP1's gauge head

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 07:47 

XRD analysis of the P2N material showed that the carbothermal reduction was not completed

The material was loaded again in its oven, new Ta caps where secured to the edges, the body remained the same

The oven was set in the EVAP1 using Ar to avoid oxidation of the P2N material

See elog 263

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 07:47

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

IGP1 = 4.11e-6 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 150 A.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 10:00

TGHT = .45 V, 149.8 A

IGP1 = 9.1e-5 Torr

 Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 10:13

TGHT = 0.6 V, 200.2 A

IGP1 = 3e-4 Torr and increasing

After 6 min:

good vacuum =  5e-2 Torr

bad vacuum = 1e-1 Torr

autoramp set to 1A/30s to 250 A

Since the pressure was decreasing, the ramp was changed to  1A/10s to 250 A, vacuum limits remained the same

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 10:28

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

IGP1 = 1.7e-4 Torr

TGHT =  0.78 V, 250.1 A

Autoramp set to 2.5 A/10 s to 700 A

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 11:17

 Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

IGP1 = 2e-4 Torr

TGHT = 2.64 V, 699 A

Autoramp set to 2 A/10 s to 800 A

 Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 11:29

 Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

IGP1 = 5.2e-5 Torr

TGHT = 3.1 V, 798.8 A

Note: Voltage starts to become unstable, an power is around 2.3 kW, pressure has not increased enough to indicate reduction with certainty

In order to reach 3 kW autoramp set to 1A/10 s to 900 A

Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 12:18

The current was increased to 1000 A expecting to see a high peak in pressure but there was not an increase in preasure.

The target is being ramped down to 850 A 

 Tuesday, September 08, 2020, 20:44

A P2N oven with three heat shields, loaded with a graphite container filled with UO2/C ring-discs was set in the EVAP1

EVAP1 is currently being evacuated.

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 10:11

IGP1 = 4.7e-6 Torr

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 150 A.

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 10:50 

TGHT = .32 V, 149.8 A

IGP1 = 6.5e-5 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A 

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 11:00

TGHT =0.46 V, 200 A

IGP1 =  6e-4 Torr and going up

good vacuum =  5e-2 Torr

bad vacuum = 1e-2 Torr

autoramp set to 1A/10s to 250 A

autoramp stopped at 215 A, since pressure kept increasing, the current was manually decreased to 180 A.

 Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 11:16

TGHT = 0.4 V, 179.7 A,

IGP1 = 8.5e-4 Torr an going down

good vacuum =  5e-2 Torr

bad vacuum = 1e-2 Torr

autoramp set to 1A/30s to 200 A

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 11:32

TGHT = 0.46 V, 200.2 A,

IGP1 = 3e-3 Torr an going down

good vacuum =  5e-2 Torr

bad vacuum = 1e-2 Torr

autoramp set to 1A/30s to 300 A

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 11:38

IGP1 = 1e-3 Torr 

Since the pressure was decreasing, the ramp was stopped at 210 and changed to  1A/10s to 300 A, vacuum limits remained the same

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 11:53

The pressure reached the bad vacuum limit 1e-2 Torr and stopped

After ~8min the pressure limits were changed to:

good vacuum =  5e-2 Torr

bad vacuum = 1e-1 Torr

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 12:05 

IGP1 = 1.15e-3 Torr

Autoramp set to 2.5 A/10 s to 700 A

Pressure increased! and ramp paused at 685 A

re-started autoramp to 700 A at 1A/10s

Wednesday, September 09, 2020, 13:56

Pressure kept increasing after 700 A, so autoramp was set to 750 A at  1A/10s

Pressure kept increasing

At 750 A pressure started reducing, autoramp was set to 760 A at 1A/10 s

System tripped suddenly (Gelo was notified)

The carbothermal reduction seemed complete 

 Thursday, September 10, 2020, 14:01

A P2N target was carbothermal reduced but at the maximum current, the power supply tripped (elog. 267)

Therefore, the target was not hot long enough to fully outgas, that is why it will be reheated.

Desired current 650 A

Thursday, September 10, 2020, 14:07 

IGP1 =  3.3e-6 Torr

Autoramp set to 650 A at 1 A/10 s 

Thursday, September 10, 2020, 16:06

Ramp reached desired current

TGHT = 2.4 V, 649 A

IGP1 = 3e-3 Torr 

 Friday, September 11, 2020, 11:17

TGHT = 2.24 V, 649.2 A

IGP1 = 3.7e-6 Torr

Friday, September 11, 2020, 12:55 

 TGHT = 2.2 V, 648.8 A

IGP1 = 3.7e-6 Torr

Autoramp set to 700 A at 1 A/10 s,

No more gas was released, the system was ramped down to 0 A at 2 A/min

Friday, September 11, 2020, 18:17

TGHT = 0.35 V, 133 A

IGP1 = 2.7e-6 Torr

 Friday, September 11, 2020, 20:01

TGHT = 0 V, 2.56 A

IGP1 = 2.6e-6 Torr

Monday, September 14, 2020, 16:19

EVAP1 was vented with Ar and the P2N material was transferred to the preparatory glove box. 

Green target material characteristics  (elog 105)

#discs = 49

Average disc thickness = 0.453mm

Empty cartridge weight = 9.42 g

Full cartridge weight = 39.86 g

UO2+C weight = 30.44 g 

Tuesday, March 30, 2021, 16:04

The target material was loaded in a P2N oven, wrapped with three heat shields, and set in the EVAP1

EVAP1 is currently being evacuated.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 09:42

IGP1 = 3.24e-6 Torr

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 150 A. 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 10:17

TGHT = .54 V, 149.88 A

IGP1 = 6.3e-4 Torr and increasing

Max pressure = 0.06 Torr

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 10:33 

IGP1= 0.004 Torr

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 200 A

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 10:43

Maximum pressure 0.03 Torr and going down

Autoramp set to 1A/10s to 250 A

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 11:04 

TGHT = 1.1 V, 299.9 A

IGP1 = 6e-4 Torr and going down

Autoramp set to 2.5 A/10 s to 700 A

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 11:35

Ramp stopped at 690 A

TGHT = 2.9V, 689.1A

IGP1 = 0.127 Torr 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 11:37

Autoramp  set to 700 A at 1A/20s

Manually ramped to 740 A (3V) to make sure carbothermal reduction is done.

 Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 12:00

The power supply tripped, Gelo was monitoring the heating process.

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 14:33

The target will be heated for 4 hours to get read of impurities.

IGP1 = 6e-6 Torr 

Autoramp set to 650 at 1A/10s 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021, 20:37

TGHT = 2.77 V, 669.6A 

IGP1 = 8.5e-6 Torr

EVAP1 ramped down to 0 A at 2 A/min

Thursday, March 31, 2021, 14:42

EVAP1's TGHT has been tripping even when the pressure is below the tripping limits. The temperature of the turbo pump and the TGHT's power supply were monitored discarding the possibility of tripping due to the overheating of these pieces of equipment.

Gelo has been monitoring the IGP1 during carbothermal reductions to pinpoint the tripping issue, below is Gelo description to the issue and the patch he implemented to fix it.

"IGP loses its STATON (On status) if the value from the device is not within the valid voltage window (0.7 to 10 V). IEVAP:IGP1 for some reason goes to 0V for a few seconds then goes back up to where it left off.

Prior to the latest software updated, I added a 2 second delay in the code so that any invalid signal <=2s will be ignored.

Here is the data that you sent me specifically looking at when it tripped. I also attached the data that you sent me.  << File: 310321-P2N-3-CR (1).txt >>

TGHT Voltage and TGHT current are both read from the same PLC module, which tells me that the PLC module is not likely the issue since we were still reading other signals when IGP was reading 0.

For the new update, I adjusted the delay to 5 seconds since the signal drop seemed like it was about 2s and was enough to lose the IGP STATON bit which tripped TGHT.

The delay only applies for the STATON status which can also be described as reading OK status in this case. Any other trip will be instantaneous and work as normal. 

STATON is “ANDed” with other trips. i.e. IEVAPIGP_LESS10MTORR = IEVAPIGP1_RDVAC < 10mTorr AND IEVAPIGP1_STATON."

Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 10:38

A first, short "FullTa1" target was loaded into the evap1. It consists of a short container (10 cm) with lateral thickness of ~0.2mm. The ends of the target connect with the TGHT terminals through two copper adapters.

After pumpdown down to ~4E-5 T, the TGHT was ramped gradually to 200 A in the next ~5 mins, leaving the target at 200 A for about 10 mins. Then, the current was increased fastly to 450 A in about 30 seconds, and was left at 450 A for a minute. 

Note: the one minute at 450 A started when the TGHT voltage drop across stabilized, considered a sign of temperature homogeneity across the target container

Wednesday, November 24, 2021, 14:34

The second short container "FullTa2" target has been loaded and heated, following the same procedure as above. In this case, the initial pumpdown went to a lower pressure (1.5E-5 T instead of ~4E-5 T) resulting in lower pressure throughout the whole procedure

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 08:39

A loaded graphite cartridge was set in a tantalum boated and wrapped with 3 tantalum sheets (previous day)

IGP1 = 1.6 e-6 Torr

Good vacuum = 5e-2 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5e-1 Torr

Current ramp is 1A per 10s from 0A to 40A then continue to 80A at 1A/10s.  Then at 1A/min to 120 A and allow degas and then autoramp 1A/10s from 120A to (450-550A)

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 09:51

IGP1= 3.0e-4 Torr

TGHT = 120A, 1.0V

Start autoramp at 1A/10s to 420A

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 10:02

Increased ramp rate to 3A/10 s as per SOP to 440 A then will slow down the ramp to observe pressure behavior.

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 10:19

At 430 A, autoramp set to 1A/10s to 500A as pressure was increasing. 

Will observe behavior of pressure curve then leave for 4 hours

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 11:04

Pressure started dropping at 520A.  Stopped ramping and will leave for 4 hours.

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 14:48

Autoramp to 400 A at 2A/30s and leave for 8 hour treatment

Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 23:00

IGP1= 2.1e-6 Torr

TGHT= 400A

Ramping down @-2A/min to 0A

Thursday, June 02, 2022, 10:09

IGP1= 6.7e-7 Torr

Ready to dismount

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 07:05

A loaded graphite cartridge was set in a tantalum boated and wrapped with 3 tantalum sheets (previous day)

IGP1 = 1.2 e-6 Torr

Good vacuum = 5e-2 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5e-1 Torr

Current ramp is 1A per 10s from 0A to 80A at 1A/10s.  Then at 1A/min to 120 A and allow degas and then autoramp 1A/10s from 120A to (450-550A)

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 08:28

IGP1=9.8e-5 Torr

TGHT = 120A, 0.85V

Start autoramp at 1A/10s to 420A

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 08:45

Increased ramp rate to 3A/10 s as per SOP to 450 A then will slow down the ramp to observe pressure behavior.

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 09:04

slowed autoramp to 2A/min to observe (1A/30s)

some erratic pressure oscillations observed then stabilized. 

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 09:32

At TGHT = 495A pressure started dropping even while current ramping up.  Stopped ramp.  Will keep for 4 hours.

TGHT = 495.6A, 4.7V

Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 13:30

TGHT = 495.6 A, 4.7V

IGP1= 8.5 e-6 Torr

Start rampdown to 400A at 2A/30s and leave for 8 hour treatment