Marla Cervantes wrote:

Tuesday, October 30, 2018, 10:12 A new LP-SIS was coated and syntered (e-log 420 Evaporator_2)  The container was loaded with a graphite insert loaded with UCx Graphite insert + UCx mass = 26.927 g A current of 440 A TGHT and 230 A TBHT will be inputed to the contianer IGP1 = 8.72e-7 Torr  The current was tapped manually to 440 A TGHT and 230 A TBHT (see fig. Heating test) Maximum pressure during heating = 1.7e-3 Torr. Target will stay at maximum current for 1 week.

 Wednesday, October 31, 2018, 10:09

The current tripped off,  around 5:00 am, the pressure was below 1e-5 Torr (see fig. current-trip_off).

On a previous test, we measured the maximum temperature of the power supply = 33.3 C (e-log 227).

Power supply overheating doesn't seem to be the problem.

EPICS windows are half withe and not answering correctly.

Also, TBHT says that IGP1 < 500 mTorr, and its interlock needs reset (see figure EPICS).

 Thursday, November 22, 2018, 17:25

D-shaped discs were cut from cast #26

A 13mm punch was used to punch out discs from pre-cut strips

The target consists of 236 discs of 10 cm in length - all single discs, no packs.

236 x UO₂/C discs = 22.66 g

Graphite insert with caps = 11.74 g

The loaded inser is placed on target boat.

Boat previously coated with TaC and sintered.

Ta-target boat is wrapped with 3-layers (2 new one used) of heat shield and installed in evap1.

Chamber is pumping down.

 Friday, November 23, 2018, 08:53

Vacuum limits:

Good vacuum 1e-1 Torr

Bad vacuum 5e-1 Torr

IGP1 = 4.12 e-6 Torr

Current tapped manually to 100 A at 1A/s in 10 A blocks with a waiting period of 20 s between each increment.

Initial IGP1 = 5.31 e-6 Torr

Max  IGP1 = 0.066 Torr

Waited 20 min for pressure to rise and drop.

The current tripped off, when the 0.013 torr  (Fig. Nov23-CurrentTrip1).

Increasing the current to 100 A again.

IGP1 = 7.00e-5 Torr

Rate was increased to 25 A each 20 s until 200 A

The pressure increased and IV1 opened, current was dropped to 100 A

Pressure after 5 min 4e-4 Torr

Rate was increased again to 25 A each 20 s until 200 A

The current was reduced to 110 A because the pressure was rising to fast

Rate was increased again to 25 A each 20 s until 300 A

The automatic ramp was set to 20 A/ min from 0 to 300 A

The automatic ramp was changed to 10A/2min to 450 A

IGP1 = 2.15e-5 Torr

After 1.5 hour, the automatic ramp was set to 20 A/ min from 450 to 500 A

After 4hrs, the automatic ramp was set to -2 A/ min from 500 to 0 A

Marla Cervantes wrote:

Monday, October 28, 2019, 10:29 A loaded graphite cartridge was set in a tantalum boated and wrapped with 3 tantalum sheets The set up was installed in the EVAP1 and pumped dwon during the weekend. IGP1 = 1.10 e-6 Torr Monday, October 28, 2019, 10:31 Good vacuum = 1e-1 Torr Bad vaccum = 5e-1 Torr The current ramp is 1 A each 10 s from 0 A to 100 A Monday, October 28, 2019, 11:13  After 18 min the pressure started dropped. Monday, October 28, 2019, 11:22  When the pressure reduced to 5e-4 Torr the current ramp was changed to 3.3 A each 10 s to 480 A, the vacuum limits stayed the same. Monday, October 28, 2019, 11:45 The limit was set to 500 A with same ramp Monday, October 28, 2019, 11:48  The ramp was changed to 1A/10s to 550 A  Monday, October 28, 2019, 11:55 At 520 A the pressure reach 1e-1 Torr and the autoramp stopped Monday, October 28, 2019, 13:39 the current was increased manually at aprox. 1A/30 s  The current dropped suddenly even though the pressure was under the limits and the ramping was in the limits. Autoramp was set to 3 A/ 10 s from to to 500 A Then it was changed to 1 A  /30s from 500 to 506 A Finally it was changed to 1 A/ 10 s from 506 to 520 A Manually tapped to 530 A Monday, October 28, 2019, 15:40 At 13:45 the current reached 530 A.

The final pressure was IGP1 = 3.3e-6 Torr 

After 18 hrs at maximum temperature the autoramp was set to -2 A/min to 0 A.

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.

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.

 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

The evaporator ion gauge filament burnt out on May 11, 2011.  A target was in the evaporator at that time and was about to being the sintering process.  The gauge had two filaments, so vacuum group helped to switch to the second filament.  The evaporator was vented on May 17, 2011, and a new ion gauge with two filaments was installed.  The gauge was tested and it's working fine. 

Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 11:18:  

IEVAP:CG2 @ 52mT before oil change. 

Edi D.V changed the oil for the backing pump.  WP#2011-09-07-2. CG2 currently @ 21mT.

2011-09-01:

• Glove box was leaking (air/argon) between base and box. Light was shining through.
• Removed old neoprene seal at base.
• Resealed glove box between base and box with DAP Butylflex. No light shining through after repair.
• Replaced rubber disks at 4 feed-throughs.
• Maico Dalla Valle replaced the inner ring on the glove ports. See dwg ITA2954 and ECO-2418.
• After the repair, the glove box has a significantly reduced leak, estimated to a few liters per minute at an air pressure of  0.5" H₂O.

Evaporator drawings can be found on ITA2900D

Work Permit: 2011-09-01-2 

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 14:38

The backing pump oil was changed (ISAC WP#2012-06-12-1). 

Work covered under work permit 2013-11-01-3 and performed by Anders and Rick with the help of Danno (RPG).

No significant contamination was found during the work. The old window could be disposed as normal waste.

 Thursday, December 11, 2014, 10:16

water valve shut off for lab closure over the holidays.

 Friday, January 23, 2015, 15:02

water supply turned back on to EVAP1 and fume hoods

 Monday, March 09, 2015, 16:55

After upgrading IOC for CXML program, experienced some issues; therefore, switched to same software as EVAP2.

Testing new software.

Chamber currently pumping down.

 Tuesday, March 10, 2015, 10:46

Chamber pumped down.

Initiated auto-ramp - not working, compilation errors...

 Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 11:47

Keiko fixed software update and rebooted IOC.

Everything seems to be working now.

 Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 09:31

Last week the vacuum trip off point was changed to 8e-4 Torr when previously it was set to 8e-5 Torr.

Vacuum limits were set to stop at 5e-5 Torr and back-off at 6e-5 Torr

Now vacuum limits will be changed by an order of magnitude in an attempt to speed up the processes in the evaporator.

 Thursday, September 07, 2017, 11:00 -12:00

The roughing pump was disconnected from Evaporator 1, along with the exhaust/ventilation. No contamination was found on swipes.

The oil was refilled.

The roughing pump was then moved away from the PLC to allow access for Dave Morris. The RP can be reconnected and tested after the PLC work is complete.

Work permit # I2017-09-07-1