Thursday, January 19, 2023, 09:57

Cartridge #8 loaded with 198 discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 10 hours @ 425A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.41e-06 Torr

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 10:02 Auto ramping to 120A @ 1A/min

Thursday, January 19, 2023, 18:58

Autoramping to  300A @ 4/min (2A/30s)

IGP1=3.34e-06 Torr

Friday, January 20, 2023, 07:37

left at 300 A for 8 hours and pressure dropped.  Restarted autoramp at 2A/30s and pressure was increasing until 425A where it peaked.  Reduced autoramp to 1A/min and observed slow but definite pressure drop.  Will go to 450A and leave there for 4 hours. 

Currently 440A, 5.3V on TGHT and 1.28e-05 Torr on IGP1

Friday, January 20, 2023, 12:06

After 4 hours at 450A IGP1= 3.49e-06 Torr

TGHT = 450A 5.4V

Will drop to 425A and leave for 10 hours

Friday, January 20, 2023, 21:53

TGHT 425A, 5.2V

IGP1= 1.81e-06 Torr

autoramping to 0 A @ -2A/min

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 22:29

Cartridge #9 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 3.71e-06 Torr

Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 22:33

Autoramping to 400A @ 1A/min

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 06:57

Starting heating at 2A/min

Currently at 400A and 4.5V

IGP1= 9.6e-06 Torr

At around 500A, the reduction was observed.  Current manually increased to 508 A and left there for remainder of four hours.  4 hours will be done at 1210 pm, then will ramp down to 450 and 8 hours

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 12:01

IGP1= 7.6 e-06 Torr

508 A, 6.0 V TGHT

Start rampdown to 450 @ -2A/min

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 20:27

IGP1= 2.36e-06 Torr

TGHT = 452A, 5.3A

Starting ramp down @-2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 9:36

Cartridge #10 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 2.4 e-06 Torr

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 10:56

Starting heat ramp at 2A/min to 60A

First pressure bump observed at 60A

Allowing pressure to restabilize

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:12

IGP1=2.6 e-5 Torr

continuing to heat at 2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:35

another pressure bump observed around 90A (should go slowly in these current range).  Aborted ramp, waiting for pressure to stabilize.

pressure rose to around 2.5e-02 Torr (close to our bad pressure)

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 13:52

IGP1=5.4e-04 Torr Start ramp at 2A/min

Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 17:53

Pressure has started to drop so increased ramp to 4A/min

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 18:18

 Second small pressure bump observed at 482A and 5.0 V.  Pressure falling.  Will leave at 500A for 4 hours . 

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 22:00

IGP1= 8.0 e-06 Torr

TGHT=500A, 5.2V

Initiate rampdown to 450A and will leave there for 8 hours

Thursday, October 12, 2023, 07:02

Initiate rampdown to zero.  IGP1=3.21e-06 Torr

TGHT= 450A, 4.6V

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 06:19

Cartridge #19 loaded with 232 discs including 5 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 3.12 e-06 Torr

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 06:20

Starting step one in ramping

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 09:12  

Pressure lowered after passing outgas peak. 

IGP1= 2.5e-05 Torr

will continue with step 2 of ramping

 Thursday, September 12, 2024, 14:46

At 115A outgas peak observed and current ramped down from 120A t 115A.  Allowing pressure to drop before continuing ramp.

Roughing pump issue.  Cooling, turning pumps off until vacuum group can take a look.

Friday, September 13, 2024, 14:39

Roughing pump seems ok.  Restarting ramp at 1A/min to 115A

Friday, September 13, 2024, 17:38

Starting ramp up at 2A/min to 520A (will monitor pump and outgassing)

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 07:44

inflection point at aroung 450A

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 07:48

pressure started dropping at 466A, but some sporadic peaks observed.  Will heat to 488A and leave for 4 hours

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 20:23  

 ramping down after 8 hour conditioning

IGP1= 2.45e-06 Torr

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 06:45

Cartridge #20 loaded with 224 discs plus 3 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.5 e-06 Torr

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 06:47

Starting initial ramp @ 2A/min to 60A

Tuesday, September 17, 2024, 10:05

Started ramp at 1A/min to 90A

Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 07:05

Reduction at 480A held for 4 hours then 8 hours at 450A

Tested by increasing 10A and significant increase in pressure observed (no real peak). 

Started rampdown at -2Amin

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 22:44

Cartridge #21 loaded with 211 discs including 3 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.6 e-06 Torr

Friday, September 20, 2024, 08:47

ramped to 300 A and allowed pressure to drop. Pressure stable around 5.0 e-5 Torr.  Will continue ramp at 2A/min

Friday, September 20, 2024, 12:30

At 500A the pressure stops rising.  Will leave for 4 hours. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 15:46

reduced for 4 hours then ramped down to 450A at -2A/min

After 8 hours ramped down to zero A at -2A/min

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 16:26

Cartridge #22 loaded with 211 discs including 3 analysis discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A (see docushare 177267)

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 1.6 e-06 Torr

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 16:27

Left system to pump down earlier in the day. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 10:23

Earlier started initial ramp to 60A at 2A/min

Initial pressure IGP1 was 2.65e-06 Torr

Pressure stable now at 2.40e-5 Torr

Starting ramp to 90 A at 1A/min

Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 18:06

top current = 440A held for four hours

 Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 22:07

setting temperature to 450A

IGP1= 9.0 e-6 Torr

5.5 V was final voltage

 Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 20:58

Evaporator is setup for UO2/Nb sintering process.  

Target oven filled with 402 discs of UO2/Nb, 5.0cm in length with tot mass of 61.49g. 

The chamber has been pumped down for 7 hrs, vac is currently at 4.6e-6 Torr. 

Parament set as follow, see attachment 1. 

 TGHT ramped up to 57A.  Pressure is stabilizing at 3.8e-5 Torr.  

Auto heating initiated.  0.1A/min.  Max TGHT = 500A. 

Sunday, February 19, 2012, 11:41 

TGHT has stayed at 500A for >10hrs,  Vac levels at 2.9e-6 Torr.

Target cool down initiated @ 2A/min.

 Monday, February 20, 2012, 10:23

Target has been cooled down over the weekend.  Vac currently at 5.77e-7 Torr.  

See attachment#2: UO2_Nb_1_striptool.jpg 

Chamber  vented in atmosphere.   

Monday, February 20, 2012, 16:23 

Pumps/ power supplies off. 

 Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 14:42

Cartridge #16 loaded with 213 plus 3 analysi discs

To be reduced inside a Ta container tube.  Tube wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Reduction for 4 hours and then 8 hours @ 450A

Good Vacuum: 5.0e-04 Torr

Bad Vacuum: 5.0e-02 Torr

Initial pressure is 2.4 e-06 Torr

Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 14:42

Start ramp @2A/min to 120A then wait for pressure drop to continue.

Tuesday, April 09, 2024, 16:51

Set ramp to 2A/30s to 480A

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 00:02

Ramping down to 450 A

Thursday, April 11, 2024, 09:56

Cool down Wednesday morning

Will be left under vacuum in EVAP1 due to hotlab closure.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 12:58: 

Target length = 11.2cm

Total UC2/C foils = 245 discs

Total U/cm2 = 15.27g

Target has been pumped down over night,  Vac currently @ 1.64e-6 Torr.  BP @ 38mT.

TGHT @ 76A/0.27V.  Vacuum went up slowly to 4.8e-5 Torr.  TGHT brought back down to 68A, vacuum is holding at 4.8e-5 Torr. 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011, 14:43: Vac @ 2.3e-5 Torr.  Start auto-heating.  0.5A/min, TGHT max = 525A.

Sunday, July 31, 2011, 10:43:  TGHT has reached to 525A.  The pressure came down when the heater was stable at that current (see attachment: striptool_july 31); this implies that more power is needed to finish the carbonization process.  Peter Kunz was informed, and we decided to increase the target heater to 580A.  I will continue to monitor this from home. 

-----------------------------------

On Aug 01, Peter and I agreed to increase the TGHT to 600A (see attachment: striptool_july31_600A) .  Based on the heating curve with 3 Ta-heat shield @ 600A, the would give ~ 2050C/3700W (300C/1600W more than UCx#2).  By looking at the striptool, the pressure came down soon after.  More power might be needed to finish the carbonization process; however as per Peter the graphite vapour pressure increases above 2000C, and we don't know what will happen above that temperature.  So, we will keep it at 600A until the pressure comes down to low 10e-6 Torr.  Then I will being the auto cooling.  Anyway, we are running at 580A online.  On the safe side, 600A may be enough for the conditioning.   

-----------------------------------

 Tuesday, August 02, 2011, 11:19:  TGHT has reached to zero current (see attachment: UCx#2_conditioning).  The evaporator will be vented with Ar.

 Friday, August 05, 2011, 10:49

Unfortunately, after the evaporator was vented with Ar, the target was found be be broken into 3 segments. More details later...

Thursday, August 04, 2011, 17:44:  All the UCx material from target oven 38634-3 was recovered and repacked in this new oven.  Total mass recovered = 45.911g and packed in 10.7cm length.  Target is currently being pumped down. 

Thursday, August 04, 2011, 20:23:  Current vac 5.6e-6 Torr.  Stepping up TGHT to 104A, vac increasing slowly.  Being auto heating @ 2A/min to 200A. 

Thursday, August 04, 2011, 21:32 THGT @ 200A,( see attachment1: 200A.jpg)

Friday, August 05, 2011, 09:04:  TGHT reached to 520A, and was cool down last night by ISAC Ops.  (See attachment2: re-conditioning).  Target looks good! 

 Thursday, November 03, 2011, 08:59

Target was previously coated/sintered with TaC & wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields, including the back-block. 

Target was loaded with 365 UC2 discs + 3 samples for analysis. 

One regular endcap and one D-cap on the other end where the 3 samples sit. 

Evaporator has been pumped down since last night.  Currently vac @ 2.0e-6 Torr.  

For this final conditioning, here are the instructions: 

1.  Slowly stepping up TGHT  to 100A to burn off the organic binder.  Vacuum is expected to rise to the limit and stay at the plateau for a few days.  

2.  Once the vacuum has come down, the target will be cooldown and the chamber will be vented with Ar.  The cup-holder may be filled with the organic binder and needed to be clean.

3.  Pump back down the evaporator; step up TGHT to 100A and wait for the reaction. 

4.  Initial TGHT auto ramping.  Set TGHT to 520A @ rate of 0.1A/min.  

5.  Allow TGHT to held at 520A for 4 hours, then cool down. 

6.  Remove target from the chamber and store in the air-tight box and transferred to the Ar-glove box. 

Thursday, November 03, 2011, 09:13 

TGHT reached to 55A, and vacuum slowly to rise. Vac @ 5.7e-6 Torr. 

Wil stay at 55A for now... 

 Thursday, November 03, 2011, 09:51

A spike in vacuum and triggered the alarm handler but didn't tripped the TGHT.

Brought TGHT back down to 50A.

Initiated Auto-heating.  Set TGHT to 100A @ 0.1A/min. 

Thursday, November 03, 2011, 18:25  

I just found out that the target heater did not reach to 100A.  The auto-heating was running to bring up TGHT to 100, but the readback stayed at 50A.  Peter K. was contacted.  We stopped the auto-heating program and instantly the target heating jumped to 100A.  Quickly, we brought down the heater to 50A.  (see attachment1 for the stiptool).  Not sure what was happening.  

I stepped up the TGHT manually to 61A, and the pressure is slowing increasing.  

Thursday, November 03, 2011, 19:26  

Something is wrong with the TGHT power supply.  I stepped it up from 55 to 63A, and found the readback stuck at 58 (local @ 56).  So, I tapped the TGHT down to 58A and then the readback followed the setpoint.

I tried again to bring it up to 63 and it stuck at 60A, and tapping down and up the slider triggered the readback to follow the setpoint.  This is a fault in the system. 

Peter was informed, and is taking over this for now.  We need to bring up the THGT up to 100A to burn off the organic binder.  I don't know what we should do from here.  I need a break! 

Friday, November 04, 2011, 15:46  

As per Jane,  there is a problem with the network issue that controls the target heater power supply.  The power supply current is not regulating proper.  (see attachment #2)

TGHT was ramped down from 85A to 0A for Control to work on the problem since this morning.  

See e-fault#5672, WP#2011-11-04-5. 

 Monday, November 07, 2011, 11:12

 Control has fixed the network issue.  

Stepped up to 10A, local read 8A.

 Initiated autoramping, setp TGHT to 20A at 1A/min.  TGHT did reach to 20A with no problem.  

Stepped up further to 30A, local at 28A.  

I conclude that the power supply is now regulating properly.  

Conditioning of UCx#3 continues... 

 Monday, November 07, 2011, 12:14

TGHT at 84.5A, locat @ 82A.  Vacuum hovering at 7.2e-5 Torr.  

Initiated auto-ramping: TGHT set to 100A, at 0.1A/min.  Incrementing current if vac < 5.0e-5 Torr and backing off if vac >6.0e-5 Torr. 

Monday, November 14, 2011, 11:03 

TGHT reached to 175A on Nov 11, 2011 to finish off the organics burnout process. 

Then TGHT was cool down @ 2A/min until TGHT reached to zero.

Evaporator was vented with Ar and the chamber was open.

The target was removed from the evaporator; the organic binder was condensed out from the D-endcap and some from the ionizer tube (See attachment 3 & 4).

One of the samples was retrieved for analysis, and the D-endcap was put back.

The target was installed back, and the chamber was pumped down. 

The sintering and thermal reduction processes continued with TGHT ramped up to 520A.  Heating rate @ 0.1/min. 

Target has been heated at 520A for ~5hrs, vac @ 5.35e-6 Torr. (see attachment 5). 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 13:42

 Target looks good.  It has been installed in the heatshield, and it's being stored in the Ar-golve box. 

Evaporator is now off.  

Evaporator was cleaned Nov 11 from after target was conditioned up to 175A. There was significant condensation of oily fluid on the left side where the target container was open (D-shaped end cap). There were also deposits in the hole for the ionizer, but the ionizer itself seemed to be clean.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 12:44

Target contains 230 discs of UCx (material from UC2 flakes, batch#01-04062012). 

Total UCx mass (UC2 + C-grv extra + C-foil + Org.) = 38.564g

Total length = 8.0 cm

Target was previously contained with TaC and sintered;  it's wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the back-block.

A regular TaC-coated endcap is inserted on one end and the other is inserted with a D-cap with two samples  (Marked sample #1 & #2).

The chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 19:06

IG currently at 9.1e-6 Torr, BP @ 22mTorr.  

Set TGHT auto-ramping parameters:  

Vacuum limit 5.0 e-6 Torr, (max 6.0 e-6 Torr)

rate = 0.25A/min

TGHT = 55A  

Initiated auto-ramping...

 Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 23:20

TGHT reached to 55A and stayed for about 55min.  The pressure was at 2.5e-5 Torr.

Increases TGHT auto-ramping to 175A to allow burning off most of the organic binder, and the chamber will be vented and cleaned before ramping 

up the heater to 520A.

Ramping rate set to 0.1A/min.

Monday, July 16, 2012, 09:44 

TGHT reached to 175A.  It has taken almost 6 days to burn off the organic binder. (see attachment #1).  

Auto-cool down has initiated.  The chamber will be vented with Ar gas and it will be opened for cleaning of the burn-off binder. 

 Monday, July 16, 2012, 14:20

The chamber was vented with Ar, and the target was removed for cleaning.  There was quite a bit of organic gunge filled the ionizer holder-base plate and condensation out the D-cap (as usual).

The chamber was cleaned and the target was installed back.  It's currently being pumped down.

Once the vacuum reached to 10e- Torr.  The heater will be ramped up to max 520A to finish the sintering process.

 Monday, July 16, 2012, 17:01

Pressure has reached to 9.1e-6 Torr. 

Initiated auto-heating at 1A/min.  Set TGHT = 175A.

 Monday, July 16, 2012, 20:00

TGHt reached to 175A.  Pressure stable at 2.2e-5 Torr.  

Increase target heater to 520A; autoramping at 0.1A/min. 

 Thursday, July 19, 2012, 10:27

TGHT reached to 520A, 5.47V (local 516A, 5.36V) and has stayed for about 4 hours.  IG1 = 9.58e-6 Torr and coming down.  BP=29mTorr.

Thursday, July 19, 2012, 10:29

Auto-cooling down in process...  2A/min for TGHT --> 0A.

 Thursday, July 19, 2012, 16:52

The chamber was vented with Ar gas, and the target was transported to the Ar-glove box. 

The samples were removed from the target.

A new TaC-sintered end-cap was inserted.

The target looks good!

Total time for the conditioning process = 9 days.

See attachment#2 for the overall heating/pressure curves.

Friday, August 24, 2012, 16:40

Target is loaded with 245 discs of UCx (material from batch#02-13062012),

Tot length = 9.1 cm. 

The container is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the back block. 

A regular TaC-coated endcap is inserted on one end and the other is inserted with a D-cap

The chamber is currently begin pumped down.

 Instructions (while I'm on vacation)

1.  TGHT will need to heat up to ~175A to burn off the organics. 

      Parameter setup:  5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0-5 bad vac.  The auto-ramping rate is set to 0.1A/min.

2.  Once the organics have burnt off, ramp down the TGHT to 0A at 2A/min.

3.  Purge the glovebox with argon gas for at least 5 mins. 

4.  Vent the chamber with Ar gas.  Close the valve when it is completely vented.

5.  Remove the target.  Be careful the left end (view from the top) is open with the D-cap. 

6.  Clean the chamber with TCE and remove all the gunge.

7.  Install the target back

8.  Pump down the chamber to at least low 10e-6 Torr before begin the final carbonization process.

9.  Auto-ramp the TGHT current to 175A at 1A/min.

10.  Once the TGHT reach to 175A.  Auto-ramp TGHT to 520A at 0.1A/min.

11.  At 520A, keep heating the target for at least 4-5 hours.

12.  Auto ramp TGHT to 0A at 2A/min.

13.  Purge the glovebox with argon for at least 5 min

14.  Vent the chamber with argon gas.  Close the vavle when it is completely vented.

15.  Remove the target from the chamber and put in the "orange box" and transport to the Ar-glove box.

Done!

 Monday, August 27, 2012, 11:26

The chamber has been pumped down over the weekend.  Vac is currently at 3.45e-6 Torr. 

Auto-ramping TGHT to 55A at 0.25A/min.

 Monday, August 27, 2012, 16:24

TGHT reached to 55A and stayed for about 2 hours.  Vacuum went up to 1.9e-5 Torr and it's slowly coming down. 

Increase auto ramping to 175A at 0.1A/min.

Thursday, May 30, 2013, 16:16

The target container was previously coated with TaC and sintered in Evap 2.

The target is loaded with 250 discs of UCx (material from batch#03_02042013)

Total length = 8.9cm

The container is wrapped with 3 layers of Ta-heat shield, including the back block.

A regular TaC coated/sintered endcap is inserted on left, wrt to the ionizer tube pointing out of the page.  The right end is open with no cap. 

(Did not use a D-cap... trying out this method.  Need to be careful when handling the target!)

The chamber is dumping down.

 Instructions for conditioning the UCx target:

1.  TGHT will need to heat up to ~175A to burn off the organics. 

      Parameter setup:  5.0e-5 good vac, 6.0-5 bad vac.  The auto-ramping rate is set to 0.1A/min.

2.  Once the organics have burnt off, ramp down the TGHT to 0A at 2A/min.

3.  Purge the glovebox with argon gas. 

4.  Vent the chamber with Ar gas.  Close the valve when it is completely vented.

5.  Remove the target.  Be careful the left end (view from the top) is open with the D-cap. 

6.  Clean the chamber with TCE and remove all the gunge.

7.  Install the target back

8.  Pump down the chamber to at least low 10e-6 Torr before begin the final carbonization process.

9.  Auto-ramp the TGHT current to 175A at 1A/min.

10.  Once the TGHT reach to 175A.  Auto-ramp TGHT to 520A at 0.1A/min.

11.  At 520A, keep heating the target for at least 4-5 hours.

12.  Auto ramp TGHT to 0A at 2A/min.

13.  Purge the glovebox with argon for at least 5 min

14.  Vent the chamber with argon gas.  Close the vavle when it is completely vented.

15.  Remove the target from the chamber and put in the "orange box" and transport to the Ar-glove box.

Done!

 Friday, May 31, 2013, 18:17

Chamber has pumped down to 6.7e-6 Torr. 

Ramping up TGHT to 175A.

 Wednesday, June 05, 2013, 11:14

TGHT reached to 227A/1.99V. (see attachment#1)

TGHT is ramping down to 0A  to clean up the chamber before continue with the conditioning.