John Wong wrote:

Peter Kunz wrote:   1. stage - burning off organics complete 2. stage - carbonization began 1-8 am 2013/07/02  Thursday, July 11, 2013, 16:11 EPICS was down and wiped out all the strip tools, but Evap stayed on.  Data archivers showed the system was down at around mid-night on July 10 - no data was archived for 12 hours.  TGHT has stayed at 520A (max) for at least 4 hours since I started the Evap EPICS back. Vacuum is currently at 7.7e-6 Torr.  The carbonization process is complete. Auto-cool down in process - at 1A/min.

 Monday, July 15, 2013, 09:43

The TGHT reached to zero on Friday and the chamber has been left under vacuum over the weekend, currently at 1.3e-6 Torr.

The chamber will be vented in Ar and the UC2 flakes will be transported into the Ar-glove box.

The process is complete

Before began the carbonization process, two cameras were setup in the hotlab for monitoring the evaporator and the power supply.  On duty ISAC Ops also helps to monitor on a regular basis and to grab the striptools + cameras (twice/shift) and put this information in the ISAC Logbook with subject header:  "UCx_2011_A 'date time'", for easy search.  

Wed May 25 14:39:31 2011:  UO2/C cast was dried in the fumehood over the weekend.  The cast was pilled off from the coated WD40 glass plate, rolled up and put in a target heating boat (/w TaC coating & sintered).   The boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields, then installed in the evaporator which is currently being pumped down.

Thu May 26 11:40:06 2011:  Vac @ 1.75e-6 torr, BP @ 0.032T.  TGHT stepped up to 30A/0.092V (panel @ 27A), ; TGHT has been held for over 10 mins, no change in vacuum yet.

Thu May 26 11:46:48 2011: TGHT @ 40A/0.123V (panel @ 37A), Vac 2.3e-6 Torr, BP@0.032T. 

Thu May 26 15:13:19 2011:  TGHT has been at 40A/0.123V for sometime.  Currently, Vac @ 4.39e-5 Torr, BP@ 0.27T.  (See Attachement#1)

Thu May 26 17:28:36 2011:  Auto ramping has begun.  (see attachment#2).  TGHT @ 40.60A, (panel @ 38A), vac @ 3.84 e-5 Torr.  

Wed Jun 1 13:28:58 2011:  TGHT currently at 395A/3.16V, vac @ 4.47e-5 Torr.  Heating sequence changed for the increment from 4.5e-5 Torr to 5.0e-5 Torr. 

Fri Jun 3 09:54:28 2011 :  The organics burnoff and the carbonization process are complete (see Attachment#3 for the striptool).  The cooling process will begin at a rate of 2A/min.  

Tue Jun 14 21:24:41 2011 :  The evaporator was about to be vented by argon on Jun 10 (Fri), but it was found that the argon cylinder was almost empty; a new one was replaced (see Attachment #4: Evaporator_Ar_flow).  After the argon cylinder was replaced,  the evaporator was purged with the gas and the vent valve was connected to the cylinder for venting of the evaporator.  The target oven was removed and stored in the hermetic transfer vessel, then transferred to the glove box.  (See attachment #5: UC2, Note: typo. Should read Ar gas, NOT N2).  The flakes were stored in the jar labelled "Stock# 2011_A", with total weight of 35g. 

Before began the carbonization process, two cameras were setup in the hotlab for monitoring the evaporator and the power supply.  On duty ISAC Ops also helps to monitor on a regular basis and to grab the striptools + cameras (twice/shift) and put this information in the ISAC Logbook with subject header:  "UCx_2011_B 'date time'", for easy search.  

P/S camera: http://isaccamera1, user/pw = admin

Evaporator camera: http://isac-cam01, user =admin, pw=yield 

Thu Jun 30 12:24:31 2011

UO2 used = 50.29g 

Green UO2/C = 71.96g, rolled up /w graphite sheet (15cm x 12cm), and put in the target boat, then wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields.  The target is installed in the evaporator and is being pumped down.

Thu Jun 30 12:45:39 2011: Currently Vac @ 3.75e-5, CG2 @ 0.045T.

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:28:  Vac @ 2.2-6 Torr.  TGHT set at 10A yesterday.   

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:42:  TGHT stepped up to 36A (panel 33A), 0.134V.  No change in vacuum,  2.38e-6 Torr, CG @33mT. 

Friday, July 01, 2011, 13:51:  TGHT stepped up to 50A (panel 47A), 0.194V.  Vac @ 5.7e-6 Torr, CG2 @ 33mT.  

Friday, July 01, 2011, 14:09 :  Vac was rising slowly.  TGHT stepped up to 57A and the pressure started to increase faster.  TGHT was brought back down to 30A, and vac is coming down gradually.  (See attachment 1#2: Startup Vac/Current)

Friday, July 01, 2011, 14:16 :  Auto ramping began.  0.1/min, max currently @ 525A. (see attachement #3: Parameter)

Monday, July 04, 2011, 12:33:  TGTH @ 146.20A, Vac @ 4.74e-5 Torr.  (see attachment#4: 3-day trend).  Increase auto ramping rate to 0.5/min. 

Monday, July 04, 2011, 13:01:   TGHT @ 148A, Vac @ 5.20e-5 torr.  Auto rampiing paused until vacuum goes down to 5.0e-5 torr.  (see attachment#4)

Monday, July 04, 2011, 17:34:  TGHT @ 220A, VAC started to come down, indicating the burning off organics was done.  Increased heating rate to 1A/min. 

Friday, July 08, 2011, 21:30:  As per Peter Kunz, "I started the target cooldown sequence for IEVAP:TGHT1 at 20:35. The pressure came down to 4e-6 torr. The ramp down rate is 2A/min. Please check if the target heater current comes down to 0A. Then it can cool off over the weekend."

Monday, July 11, 2011, 12:17:  Evap glove box flashed with Ar gas, set pressure ~100psi.  Chamber also vented with Ar, set pressure  @ ~5psi.

Thursday, September 29, 2011, 10:54

UO2/C mixture was made on Tuesday Sept 27, casted on a piece of glass and let dried in the fume hood for ~2days. 

Dried UO2/C mass = 61.72g

Target material is wrapped /w graphite sheet and put on a new heatboat coated/sintered /w TaC.

Heat boat is wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields. 

Evaporator chamber is currently being pumped down. 

Friday, September 30, 2011, 10:01

Evaporator has been pumped down over night, IG currently @ 2.92e-6 Torr, BP @ 27mT.

TGHT will be stepped up to 40A and allow the pressure to slowly increase.  

Friday, September 30, 2011, 10:30  

TGHT is holding at 40A/0.139V  (local @ 37A), and pressure is slowly increasing, expect pressure to stabilize at ~4.5e-5 Torr before being auto-heating.

See attachment#1: TGHT_40A. 

Friday, September 30, 2011, 13:39

TGHT has been at 40A for more than 3 hrs.  Pressure went as high as 6.9e-5 Torr and it's now coming down.  (See attachment#2:  TGHT@40A_3hrs)

Auto-heating is initiating.  TGHT rate @ 0.1A/min to reach to max current of 525A.  (see attachment#3: parameter.jpg) 

Sunday, October 09, 2011, 10:44  

Target heater reached to 520A and held for a few hours.  

Evaporator was cooled down last night and TGHT is now at 0A.

(For the overall process, see Attachment#4: UCx#3_batch1.jpg) 

IG1 @ 5.7e-7 Torr.  Chamber will be vented with Ar on Tuesday. 

TGHT is off and water valve is shut.  

 Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 13:10

Evaporator glovebox was purged with Ar prior to venting the chamber with Ar.  

Layers of burnout marks were coated all around the inside of the evaporator (see attachment#5. Evpr_afterprocess.jpg), 

Before cleaning, the evaporator chamber had ~200,000 cpm. 

The heating boat containing UCx was removed from the evaporator and stored in the "orange" case, then transferred to the Ar-glove box.

Weight of UCx flasks:  47.15g (See attachment#6: UCx#3_batch1_mass.jpg)

The evaporator was thoroughly cleaned; the burnout marks were removed, and it will be used for UCx#3:batch#2 - UO2/C process.

 Thursday, October 06, 2011, 12:19

UO2/C mixture was made on Oct 4 and casted on a piece of glass costed with WD40, and let dried in the fume hood for 2days. 

Dried UO2/C mass = 64.95g

The batch is wrapped with a piece of graphite sheet and waiting to be heated in the evaporator.  

Currently, batch#1 is in the evaporator.

 Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 10:52

UO2/C mixture was loaded on a heatboat and wrapped with 3-Ta heat shields. 

Evaporator has been pumped down overnight, IG currently at 1.57e-6 Torr.

TGHT will be stepped up to 40A. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 11:00  

TGHT @ 40A/0.128V, local @ 37A. IG @ 1.7e-6 Torr.  

Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 12:35 

TGHT tripped off @ 40A due to high vacuum (>8E-5 Torr).  See attachment#1

Vacuum has come down to 8.5e-6 Torr. 

Stepped up TGHT to 35A.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 15:19  

TGHT was held at 35A for 2.5 hrs.  IG @ 4.5e-5 Torr.

Initiated auto heating @ 0.1A/min, Max current @ 525A. 

 Thursday, October 20, 2011, 16:15

Vacuum suddenly increased to ~ 7.7e-5 Torr when TGHT @ 317A (see attachment#2).  There could be a shift in the material during the thermal reduction,

and caused a sudden spike in vacuum.

Currently, IG @ 5.2e-5 Torr, TGHT @ 316.7A.

TGHT reached to 525A and held for >4hrs before cooling down (see attachment#3)

UCx was removed from the evaporator and transferred to the Ar-glove box.  

The material looks great! 

Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 16:55

The UO2/C green was prepared on June 04, 2012. 

UO2 powder used = 50.26g

C-grv used = 10.14g. 

Dry UO2/C green mass = 61.71g.

The green was rolled and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet.

The target boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shield and installed in the Evap#1. 

The chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11:42

Currently, IEVAPIG1= 1.83e-6 Torr, IEVAP:CG2= 48 mTorr.

Backing line pressure is slightly high.  Will get Edi to look into this.

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 14:38

The backing pump oil was changed (ISAC WP#2012-06-12-1).  IEVAP:CG2 is currently reading 27mTorr and IEVAPIG1 at 1.66e-6 Torr.

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:06

TGHT was tabbed up to 50A and stayed for 1.5 hrs.  Not much change in the pressure, currently at 1.8e-6 Torr, BP @ 25mTorr.  

Keep stepping up TGHT current...

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:37

TGHT at 65A.  Pressure is starting to rise.

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:46

Pressure at  6.8e-6 Torr and going up slowly. 

Initiated TGHT auto-ramping:

Max current = 525A,  rate @ 0.1A/min (see attachment #1)

 Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 13:22

TGHT has almost reached to 80A.  Pressure is limiting at 4.5e-6 Torr. (see attachment#2)

Thursday, June 14, 2012, 17:11

TGHT has reached to 95.40A, local @ 92A & 0.48V.  Pressure is still limiting at 4e-6 Torr.  (see attachment #3)

The TGHT current can not go up above 232A because it's voltage limiting at 1.953V (see attachment#4).  The carbon thermal-reduction process stops and the vacuum is going down to low 10e-6 Torr. 

The voltage can not be increased on EPICS; it has to be adjusted locally.  

Auto-ramping aborted.  

The TGHT current setpoint was lowered down to 228A.

Sunday, June 17, 2012, 12:03  

Asked ISAC Ops (Ed Parton) to help me increase the voltage locally.  The voltage nob was turned 1/4 clockwise, and the current was tapped up from 228 to 231A, and it was responding.  The voltage nob was further turned to 3/4 clockwise. 

Initiated auto-ramping. 

Currently, TGHT setpoint at 234.90A, local 231A/1.95V.  

Vacuum is responding and it's slowly going up (currently at 2.8e-6 Torr) - The carbon thermal reduction process continues... 

Monday, June 18, 2012, 00:20  

TGHT is going up slowly, currently at  285A.  The pressure is limiting as the carbonization process is under way (see attachment 5).

 Monday, June 25, 2012, 16:00

The EPICS control was down on Sunday night. So the auto-ramping was aborted.  

Control group fixed the problem, and the network is back online.

The auto-ramping has been re-initiated. 

TGHT is currently at 314.70A, local at 311/3.04V.  IG at 4.21e-5 Torr, BP at 15mTorr.

 Saturday, June 30, 2012, 23:08

The carbonization process has finished.

TGHT has reached to 520A and maintained at that current for about 5hrs. (see attachment #6).

Initiated auto-cool down.

Tuesday, July 03, 2012, 13:05 

TGHT is now at 0A.  The carbonization process is done.  

It took over 20 days for this process (see attachment #7), due to some control issues & power supply problem. Also the vacuum limit was set to 4.0e-5 Torrr; that might increase the pumping time.  

Next time, try setting the pressure limit to 5.0e-5 Torr.  

The chamber will be vented with Ar, and the UC2 flakes will be transferred to the Ar-glove box.  

John Wong wrote:

Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 16:55 The UO2/C green was prepared on June 04, 2012.  UO2 powder used = 50.26g C-grv used = 10.14g.  Dry UO2/C green mass = 61.71g. The green was rolled and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet. The target boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shield and installed in the Evap#1.  The chamber is currently being pumped down.

 Monday, June 11, 2012, 10:31

Last week during the pump down of the chamber (vacuum got down to low 10e-5 Torr), the cooling was open in preparation of turning on the target heater.  A vacuum excursion was triggered (pressure went up to 300mTorr), and the system was tripped off.  It was suspected that there was some leaks. 

A leak test was performed - all the water connecters & joints are fine.  The seal for the chamber lid was found leaky (5e-8 atm cc/sec).  The seal was replaced and the vacuum was improved but no perfect.

The chamber has been pumped down over the weekend, pressure currently at 2.3e-6 Torr. 

Coincidentally, the TGHT power supply is broken.  The initial action was to turn on the power supply at 0A when the chamber vacuum had gone down to 10-6 Torr.  But the power supply did not regular and shot up to 1000A and caused a vacuum excursion.  Ray Dube will replaced it. 

John Wong wrote:

John Wong wrote: Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 16:55 The UO2/C green was prepared on June 04, 2012.  UO2 powder used = 50.26g C-grv used = 10.14g.  Dry UO2/C green mass = 61.71g. The green was rolled and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet. The target boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shield and installed in the Evap#1.  The chamber is currently being pumped down.    Monday, June 11, 2012, 10:31 Last week during the pump down of the chamber (vacuum got down to low 10e-5 Torr), the cooling was open in preparation of turning on the target heater.  A vacuum excursion was triggered (pressure went up to 300mTorr), and the system was tripped off.  It was suspected that there was some leaks.  A leak test was performed - all the water connecters & joints are fine.  The seal for the chamber lid was found leaky (5e-8 atm cc/sec).  The seal was replaced and the vacuum was improved but no perfect. The chamber has been pumped down over the weekend, pressure currently at 2.3e-6 Torr.  Coincidentally, the TGHT power supply is broken.  The initial action was to turn on the power supply at 0A when the chamber vacuum had gone down to 10-6 Torr.  But the power supply did not regular and shot up to 1000A and caused a vacuum excursion.  Ray Dube will replaced it.

 Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11:37

Ray Dube repaired the TGHT power supply.  It is now operational.

John Wong wrote:

Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 16:55 The UO2/C green was prepared on June 04, 2012.  UO2 powder used = 50.26g C-grv used = 10.14g.  Dry UO2/C green mass = 61.71g. The green was rolled and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet. The target boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shield and installed in the Evap#1.  The chamber is currently being pumped down.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11:42 Currently, IEVAPIG1= 1.83e-6 Torr, IEVAP:CG2= 48 mTorr. Backing line pressure is slightly high.  Will get Edi to look into this.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 14:38 The backing pump oil was changed (ISAC WP#2012-06-12-1).  IEVAP:CG2 is currently reading 27mTorr and IEVAPIG1 at 1.66e-6 Torr.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:06 TGHT was tabbed up to 50A and stayed for 1.5 hrs.  Not much change in the pressure, currently at 1.8e-6 Torr, BP @ 25mTorr.   Keep stepping up TGHT current...  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:37 TGHT at 65A.  Pressure is starting to rise.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:46 Pressure at  6.8e-6 Torr and going up slowly.  Initiated TGHT auto-ramping: Max current = 525A,  rate @ 0.1A/min (see attachment #1)  Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 13:22 TGHT has almost reached to 80A.  Pressure is limiting at 4.5e-6 Torr. (see attachment#2) Thursday, June 14, 2012, 17:11 TGHT has reached to 95.40A, local @ 92A & 0.48V.  Pressure is still limiting at 4e-6 Torr.  (see attachment #3) The TGHT current can not go up above 232A because it's voltage limiting at 1.953V (see attachment#4).  The carbon thermal-reduction process stops and the vacuum is going down to low 10e-6 Torr.  The voltage can not be increased on EPICS; it has to be adjusted locally.   Auto-ramping aborted.   The TGHT current setpoint was lowered down to 228A. Sunday, June 17, 2012, 12:03   Asked ISAC Ops (Ed Parton) to help me increase the voltage locally.  The voltage nob was turned 1/4 clockwise, and the current was tapped up from 228 to 231A, and it was responding.  The voltage nob was further turned to 3/4 clockwise.  Initiated auto-ramping.  Currently, TGHT setpoint at 234.90A, local 231A/1.95V.   Vacuum is responding and it's slowly going up (currently at 2.8e-6 Torr) - The carbon thermal reduction process continues...  Monday, June 18, 2012, 00:20   TGHT is going up slowly, currently at  285A.  The pressure is limiting as the carbonization process is under way (see attachment 5).

Sunday, June 24, 2012, 22:51  

The Evaporator IOC has lost communication (see attachment #6).  The TGHT auto ramping was not responding to the vacuum limit and kept ramping up, so the program had to be aborted.  

On the live camera,  it showed that TGHT stopped at 311A/3.02V and the pressure was at 5.05e-5 Torr.  

An email has sent to Controls and hopefully things get resolved on Monday. 

John Wong wrote:

John Wong wrote: Wednesday, June 06, 2012, 16:55 The UO2/C green was prepared on June 04, 2012.  UO2 powder used = 50.26g C-grv used = 10.14g.  Dry UO2/C green mass = 61.71g. The green was rolled and wrapped in a piece of graphite sheet. The target boat was wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shield and installed in the Evap#1.  The chamber is currently being pumped down.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11:42 Currently, IEVAPIG1= 1.83e-6 Torr, IEVAP:CG2= 48 mTorr. Backing line pressure is slightly high.  Will get Edi to look into this.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 14:38 The backing pump oil was changed (ISAC WP#2012-06-12-1).  IEVAP:CG2 is currently reading 27mTorr and IEVAPIG1 at 1.66e-6 Torr.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:06 TGHT was tabbed up to 50A and stayed for 1.5 hrs.  Not much change in the pressure, currently at 1.8e-6 Torr, BP @ 25mTorr.   Keep stepping up TGHT current...  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:37 TGHT at 65A.  Pressure is starting to rise.  Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 16:46 Pressure at  6.8e-6 Torr and going up slowly.  Initiated TGHT auto-ramping: Max current = 525A,  rate @ 0.1A/min (see attachment #1)  Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 13:22 TGHT has almost reached to 80A.  Pressure is limiting at 4.5e-6 Torr. (see attachment#2) Thursday, June 14, 2012, 17:11 TGHT has reached to 95.40A, local @ 92A & 0.48V.  Pressure is still limiting at 4e-6 Torr.  (see attachment #3) The TGHT current can not go up above 232A because it's voltage limiting at 1.953V (see attachment#4).  The carbon thermal-reduction process stops and the vacuum is going down to low 10e-6 Torr.  The voltage can not be increased on EPICS; it has to be adjusted locally.   Auto-ramping aborted.   The TGHT current setpoint was lowered down to 228A. Sunday, June 17, 2012, 12:03   Asked ISAC Ops (Ed Parton) to help me increase the voltage locally.  The voltage nob was turned 1/4 clockwise, and the current was tapped up from 228 to 231A, and it was responding.  The voltage nob was further turned to 3/4 clockwise.  Initiated auto-ramping.  Currently, TGHT setpoint at 234.90A, local 231A/1.95V.   Vacuum is responding and it's slowly going up (currently at 2.8e-6 Torr) - The carbon thermal reduction process continues...  Monday, June 18, 2012, 00:20   TGHT is going up slowly, currently at  285A.  The pressure is limiting as the carbonization process is under way (see attachment 5).   Sunday, June 24, 2012, 22:51     The Evaporator IOC has lost communication (see attachment #6).  The TGHT auto ramping was not responding to the vacuum limit and kept ramping up, so the program had to be aborted.   On the live camera,  it showed that TGHT stopped at 311A/3.02V and the pressure was at 5.05e-5 Torr.   An email has sent to Controls and hopefully things get resolved on Monday.

 Monday, June 25, 2012, 15:57

The Control Support group investigated the problem and found out that the fiber converters on both ends failed.  They have been replaced with brand new switches with fiber connections.

 The Evap EPICS is back online.