Tuesday, April 04, 2023, 12:48

Ta HP-FEBIAD was coated with TaC and wrapped with Ta heat-shields (3 layers + 1 inner layer around fins including center fins)

Desired temperature = 1850 C , TBHT will be set fixed at 230A (max).

Evap 2 will be pumped down over previous night

OMEGA slope= 0.990

Good vacuum = 5.00 e-4 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5.00 e-2 Torr

OMEGA target temp = 1850 C

Wednesday, April 05, 2023, 07:37

IGP1= 4.3e-07 Torr

starting autoramp @ 1A/min to 230A on both TGHT and TBHT

Wednesday, April 05, 2023, 10:56

Starting Autoramp at 4A/min to 400 A on TGHT

Wednesday, April 05, 2023, 14:14

OMEGA Reached 1877C  @ 743A, 11.3V TGHT

rampdown  @ 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 05, 2023, 14:38

Decreased TGHT current to 736A because temperature was creeping up

rampdown was started at 6:05 pm

Final pressure at 0 V - 1.7e-07 Torr

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 07:07

The coated container was wrapped in 3 Ta foil heatshields.

Target temperature on OMEGA= 1850-1900 C

OMEGA slope:= 0.990

Target time at max temperature = 4 hours

Final Current TBHT= 230 A

Final TGHT current= ~500A (adjustable)

Heating autoramp starged at 1A/min on  TGHT  and TBHT to 120A

Then at 2 A/min  to =400 A TGHT and 230A TBHT

Good vacuum = 5.0 e-04 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5.0E-02 Torr

Initial IGP1= 7.7e-07 Torr

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 12:29

OMEGA=1238 C

IGP1=1.4e-06 Torr

Continue ramp

 ramp @ 4A/min (2A/30s)

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 12:50

IGP1= 2.23e-06 Torr

OMEGA=1392 C

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 13:04

IGP1=2.7e-06 Torr

OMEGA=1443 C

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 13:18

IGP1= 3.8e-06 Torr

OMEGA=1537 C

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 14:38

OMEGA=1852C

Wednesday, December 06, 2023, 09:47

Target number of foils:370

Analysis discs 16 A and 16B interspersed on the end further from the laser

A are discs produced using new method and B are discs produced using milling.

Total length packed 16 cm (excluding the analysis discs)

container has 3 Ta heat shields (one inner around fins and center block, new type of 1st shield made up of three pieces)

No endcaps inserted to facilitate out-gassing

Ta coated spring at  front end

ramp to 120A @ 1A/min TGHT and to 120A on TBHT hold there until pressure drop, then ramp to 500A on TGHT and 230A TBHT.

max approx 700A on TGHT and 230A on TBHT (Omega slope set = 0.990)

Then temperature = 1800C

TBHT will be set fixed at 230 A (max).  TBHT heated manually and automatically to max.

Good vac at 5.00 e -4 Torr

Bad vac at 5.00 e-2 Torr

 IGP1= 1e-06 Torr at start of initial ramp.

Wednesday, December 06, 2023, 09:56

System left to drop pressure over previous night and now at 120A.  waiting for pressure drop.

Wednesday, December 06, 2023, 11:18

increased ramp rate to 2A/min

Wednesday, December 06, 2023, 14:41

increased ramp to 3A/min on TGHT and stopping to allow pressure to stabilize before taking temperature readings

Top temperature 1800C at 710 A but started dropping.  Increased current to 750A and left there for 4 hours.

Cool down at -2A/min TGHT and -1A/min TBHT

Friday, January 26, 2024, 07:05

The coated container was wrapped in 4 Ta foil heatshield and left in evap2 over night to attain vacuum.

Target temperature on OMEGA= 1850-1900 C

OMEGA slope:= 0.990

Target time at max temperature = 4 hours

Final Current TBHT= 230 A

Final TGHT current= ~700A (adjustable)

Heating autoramp starged at 1A/min on  TGHT  and TBHT to 120A

Then at 2 A/min  to =400 A TGHT and 230A TBHT

Good vacuum = 5.0 e-04 Torr

Bad vacuum = 5.0E-02 Torr

Initial IGP1= 5.7e-05 Torr

Friday, January 26, 2024, 09:20

Pressure starts increasing at 125 A on TGHT and TBHT.  Leaving it to equilibrate then will start ramping at 3A/min (1.5A/30s) to 700A on TGHT and 230A on TBHT

Friday, January 26, 2024, 13:18

leave sintering at 1838C .  Will start rampdown at 5 pm.

IGP1= 6.10e-06 Torr

TGHT=680A, 10.14V

TBHT = 230A, 3.13V

Friday, January 26, 2024, 16:52

IGP1 = 3.0e10-6 Torr

OMEGA=1821 C

start rampdown @-2A/min TGHT and -1A/min TBHT

Evaporator #2 is still under construction.  For further information please contact Jens Lassen.

Rick mentioned to me that the evaporator is ready for the next steps of the commissioning process.
In the chamber only the target leg heaters have current by-pass clamps on them. 
The ionizer tube heaters do not have them because these lines do not have the same configuration as the others. The current by-pass clamps will 
not fit these lines.

We may not need this for the commissioning, Rick will design and manufacture something  for this when I get back from holiday.

The water is on in all circuits except for the power supply cooling circuit.

Pierre

 Monday, February 13, 2012, 16:21

The Evaporator 2 is now commissioned.  See attachment#1 for the commissioning report or refer to Document #43321.  

Thursday, March 01, 2012, 14:35

Both the IEVAP2:TBHT and IEVAP2:TGHT maximum current setpoints on the vacuum page (see page: /edl/ievap2_vacuum1.edl) are wrong. 

For IEVAP2:TGHT, the maximum current setpoint should be 1500A (see page: /edl/ievap2tghtcp.edl), not 1000A. 

For IEVAP2:TBHT, the maximum current setpoint should be 500A (see page: /edl/ievap2tbhtcp.edl), not 300A. 

See attachement#1 for grabscreen. 

Fault: 5853

 Monday, March 19, 2012, 17:04

Target boat contains 4 BeO pellets with 30% PVB:

Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3)

1   4.943,  0.9628,  1.265

2  4.930,  0.9685,  1.276

3  4.758,  0.9607,  1.312

4  4.979,  0.9872,  1.288

Target chamber is currently being pumped down. Leak check will be done tomorrow by turning on the cooling water for the heat shield. 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 18:30

The Evaporator #2 backing pump (IEVAP2BP1) muffler has been connected to the exhaust system.

The auto-ramp program has been tested today and works well.

Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 500 A, between 5.00e-05 and 6.00e-05 Torr.

ISAC ops have been informed of the process and they will include it in their walkaround.

 Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 14:22

The Evaporator #2 backing pump (IEVAP2:BP1) muffler has not connected to the exhaust duct.

 See attachment#1 as to where the muffler should be connected to the exhaust ducting system.  

The Evaporator chamber is currently under vacuum; the BeO sintering process will be pending for now until the backing pump is properly installed. 

(ISAC E-fault 5880) 

 Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 13:55

Edi Dalla Valle is connecting the evaporator backing scroll pump exhaust to the existing nuclear exhaust. (See attachment#2: scroll_pump_exhause.jpg).  A filter is also added between the exhaust line 

to prevent any back flow of oil from the Evaporator #1 backing pump (An oil pump). 

Work is covered under ISAC WP# 2012-03-21-3.

The evaporator is now operational. 

Nikita Bernier wrote:

Monday, March 19, 2012, 17:04   Target boat contains 4 BeO pellets with 30% PVB: Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1   4.943,  0.9628,  1.265 2  4.930,  0.9685,  1.276 3  4.758,  0.9607,  1.312 4  4.979,  0.9872,  1.288   Target chamber is currently being pumped down. Leak check will be done tomorrow by turning on the cooling water for the heat shield.

 Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 14:35

It was found out that the Evaporator #2 backing pump (IEVAP2BP1) muffler is not connected to the exhaust system.  The sintering process is on hold until the pump is properly setup (see message ID#7 for more details). 

Nikita Bernier wrote:

Monday, March 19, 2012, 17:04   Target boat contains 4 BeO pellets with 30% PVB: Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1   4.943,  0.9628,  1.265 2  4.930,  0.9685,  1.276 3  4.758,  0.9607,  1.312 4  4.979,  0.9872,  1.288   Target chamber is currently being pumped down. Leak check will be done tomorrow by turning on the cooling water for the heat shield.   * Note: Target a boat is wrapped with a piece of Ta-foil as a heat shield - JW. Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 18:30 The Evaporator #2 backing pump (IEVAP2BP1) muffler has been connected to the exhaust system. The auto-ramp program has been tested today and works well. Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 500 A, between 5.00e-05 and 6.00e-05 Torr. ISAC ops have been informed of the process and they will include it in their walkaround.

 Thursday, March 22, 2012, 00:25

TGHT SETPOINT was ramped up to 266A but the actual p/s current remained at 90A; that was because the voltage was set 1.05V.  (See attachment1: voltage_limiting.jpg). 

Increased TGHT voltage to 20V, and increased the auto-ramping final value from 500A to 1000A (~1780C as previously measured by a pyrometer, see Attachment 2: Temp-Cal vs Measured.jgp)

Thursday, March 22, 2012, 10:17 

TGHT  ramped up at the rate of 1A/min to 534A/8.89V, local @ 525A/8.90V.  Pressure is coming down to low 10e-6. (See attachment 3: TGHT_525A.jpg)

Increased ramping rate to 2A/min until TGHT reaches to 1000A.

Thursday, March 22, 2012, 13:32

A decision was made to stop the TGHT autoramping program, and set the current to 700A, (local at 690A).  The temperature was measured to be around 1780C on the target boat, and

1500C on the Ta-heat shield.  The current remained at that current for about 2 hours before it's ramping down at zero at -10A/min.

Nikita Bernier wrote:

Monday, March 19, 2012, 17:04   Target boat contains 4 BeO pellets with 30% PVB: Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1   4.943,  0.9628,  1.265 2  4.930,  0.9685,  1.276 3  4.758,  0.9607,  1.312 4  4.979,  0.9872,  1.288   Target chamber is currently being pumped down. Leak check will be done tomorrow by turning on the cooling water for the heat shield.    Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 18:30 The Evaporator #2 backing pump (IEVAP2BP1) muffler has been connected to the exhaust system. The auto-ramp program has been tested today and works well. Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 500 A, between 5.00e-05 and 6.00e-05 Torr. ISAC ops have been informed of the process and they will include it in their walkaround.

After sintering at up to 500 A (~1000°C), the 4 BeO pellets have shrunk and feel robust. We can manipulate them with tweesers or hands. Also we can drop them from a couple of inches high and they don't break.

One of the pellets rolled to the extremity of the target boat tube and still has black traces from bad sintering on one side.

Sample,  Thickness (mm),  Mass (g),  Diameter (mm),  Density (g/cm3)

1  3.688,  0.7118,  11.231,  1.948

2  3.822,  0.7196,  11.241,  1.897

3  3.810,  0.7037,  11.188,  1.879

4  3.803,  0.7077,  11.269,  1.866

The average thickness before sintering was 4.90 mm. After sintering, 3.78 mm. Thus the average thickness loss is 1.12 mm (22.9%)

The average mass before sintering was 0.9698 g. After sintering, 0.7107 g. Thus the average mass loss is 0.2591 g (26.7%)

The average diameter before sintering was 14.35 mm. After sintering, 11.23 mm. Thus the average diameter loss is 3.12 mm (21.7%)

The average density after sintering is 1.897 g/cm3, compared to the density of BeO (3.01 g/cm3). Thus the pellets have a BeO density of 63.0%.

Evaporator #2 is now off.

 Thursday, March 29, 2012, 19:17

Target boat contains 3 BeO pellets :

Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3)

1    9.06,  1.9713,  1.413

2    9.11,  1.9900,  1.419

3  13.54,  1.9916,  0.956

Samples 1 and 2 are made of BeO powder with 30% PVB which was washed with excess acetone and let to dry on a greased baking sheet (with PAM Butter flavoured). The flakes were then milled for 26 minutes at 400 RPM. It resulted in a very fine grey powder, much denser than the BeO powder with 30% PVB (not washed with acetone) that was used for Sample 3.

The initial settings on Evaporator #2 were 100 A and 0.83 V until the vacuum increased.

Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 700 A, with the maximum voltage limited at 14 V, between 5.00e-05 (Good vacuum) and 6.00e-05 Torr (Bad vacuum).

Nikita Bernier wrote:

Thursday, March 29, 2012, 19:17   Target boat contains 3 BeO pellets : Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1    9.06,  1.9713,  1.413 2    9.11,  1.9900,  1.416 3  13.54,  1.9916,  0.956   Samples 1 and 2 are made of BeO powder with 30% PVB which was washed with excess acetone and let to dry on a greased baking sheet (with PAM Butter flavoured). The flakes were then milled for 26 minutes at 400 RPM. It resulted in a very fine grey powder, much denser than the BeO powder with 30% PVB (not washed with acetone) that was used for Sample 3. The initial settings on Evaporator #2 were 100 A and 0.83 V until the vacuum increased. Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 700 A, with the maximum voltage limited at 14 V, between 5.00e-05 (Good vacuum) and 6.00e-05 Torr (Bad vacuum).

 Thursday, March 29, 2012, 22:31:

TGHT tripped off a few times over the past hours.  After changing the Good Vac to 2.00e-5 torr and Bad Vac to 3.00e-5 Torr, the target heater are regulating properly and the max pressure is well maintained below 6.5e-5 Torr [Trip point @ 8.0e-5 Torr].  (see attachment#1: parameter.jpg)

John Wong wrote:

Nikita Bernier wrote:  Thursday, March 29, 2012, 19:17   Target boat contains 3 BeO pellets : Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1    9.06,  1.9713,  1.413 2    9.11,  1.9900,  1.416 3  13.54,  1.9916,  0.956   Samples 1 and 2 are made of BeO powder with 30% PVB which was washed with excess acetone and let to dry on a greased baking sheet (with PAM Butter flavoured). The flakes were then milled for 26 minutes at 400 RPM. It resulted in a very fine grey powder, much denser than the BeO powder with 30% PVB (not washed with acetone) that was used for Sample 3. The initial settings on Evaporator #2 were 100 A and 0.83 V until the vacuum increased. Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 700 A, with the maximum voltage limited at 14 V, between 5.00e-05 (Good vacuum) and 6.00e-05 Torr (Bad vacuum).        Thursday, March 29, 2012, 22:31: TGHT tripped off a few times over the past hours.  After changing the Good Vac to 2.00e-5 torr and Bad Vac to 3.00e-5 Torr, the target heater are regulating properly and the max pressure is well maintained below 6.5e-5 Torr [Trip point @ 8.0e-5 Torr].  (see attachment#1: parameter.jpg)

Friday, March 30, 2012, 23:19  

Archive of the target current and vacuum over the past 24 hours.  (see attachment #1: archive_24hr)

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 12:12

The organic materials have been burnt off.  The target heater ramping up is no longer restricted by the vacuum limit. 

Archive of the target current and vacuum over the past 10 hours. (see attachment #2: TGHT@240A). 

 Saturday, March 31, 2012, 22:52

TGHT has stayed at 700A/12.37V, local @ 693A/12.43 = Temp @ 1780C.  

The striptool shows some out-gassing when TGHT reached to 700A. (see attachment #3 marked with black circle: TGHT@700A.jpg)

Increasing TGHT to 750A to see if there is any further reaction...  

Sunday, April 01, 2012, 10:24  

TGHT was ramped up to 750A, local 730A/13.90V.  The pressure has come down to low 10e-6 but not stable;  Some reaction may be ongoing therefore it's causing the vacuum excursion.  (See attachment #4: TGHT @ 750A).  Notice the current readback is not constant and it's slowly decreasing as the voltage readback is increasing.  There might be some resistant building up.

--> Initiating the cool-down process at 2A/min. 

Sunday, April 01, 2012, 19:30  

TGHT has ramped down to 0A, and the pressure is going down (currently at 7.e-8 Torr) with no excursion.  (see attachment #5: TGHT@0A). 

The chamber will be vented tomorrow, and the target materials will be inspected. 

John Wong wrote:

John Wong wrote: Nikita Bernier wrote:  Thursday, March 29, 2012, 19:17   Target boat contains 3 BeO pellets : Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3) 1    9.06,  1.9713,  1.413 2    9.11,  1.9900,  1.416 3  13.54,  1.9916,  0.956   Samples 1 and 2 are made of BeO powder with 30% PVB which was washed with excess acetone and let to dry on a greased baking sheet (with PAM Butter flavoured). The flakes were then milled for 26 minutes at 400 RPM. It resulted in a very fine grey powder, much denser than the BeO powder with 30% PVB (not washed with acetone) that was used for Sample 3. The initial settings on Evaporator #2 were 100 A and 0.83 V until the vacuum increased. Evaporator #2 is now auto-ramping overnight at 1 A/min, up to 700 A, with the maximum voltage limited at 14 V, between 5.00e-05 (Good vacuum) and 6.00e-05 Torr (Bad vacuum).        Thursday, March 29, 2012, 22:31: TGHT tripped off a few times over the past hours.  After changing the Good Vac to 2.00e-5 torr and Bad Vac to 3.00e-5 Torr, the target heater are regulating properly and the max pressure is well maintained below 6.5e-5 Torr [Trip point @ 8.0e-5 Torr].  (see attachment#1: parameter.jpg) Friday, March 30, 2012, 23:19   Archive of the target current and vacuum over the past 24 hours.  (see attachment #1: archive_24hr) Saturday, March 31, 2012, 12:12 The organic materials have been burnt off.  The target heater ramping up is no longer restricted by the vacuum limit.  Archive of the target current and vacuum over the past 10 hours. (see attachment #2: TGHT@240A).   Saturday, March 31, 2012, 22:52 TGHT has stayed at 700A/12.37V, local @ 693A/12.43 = Temp @ 1780C.   The striptool shows some out-gassing when TGHT reached to 700A. (see attachment #3 marked with black circle: TGHT@700A.jpg) Increasing TGHT to 750A to see if there is any further reaction...   Sunday, April 01, 2012, 10:24   TGHT was ramped up to 750A, local 730A/13.90V.  The pressure has come down to low 10e-6 but not stable;  Some reaction may be ongoing therefore it's causing the vacuum excursion.  (See attachment #4: TGHT @ 750A).  Notice the current readback is not constant and it's slowly decreasing as the voltage readback is increasing.  There might be some resistant building up. --> Initiating the cool-down process at 2A/min.  Sunday, April 01, 2012, 19:30   TGHT has ramped down to 0A, and the pressure is going down (currently at 7.e-8 Torr) with no excursion.  (see attachment #5: TGHT@0A).  The chamber will be vented tomorrow, and the target materials will be inspected.

 Monday, April 02, 2012, 16:11

After sintering , the 3 BeO pellets have shrunk and feel robust.

The first sample ate through the Ta target boat, shrank a lot and has white and black marks. We suspect the PAM (mostly made of canola oil) to be responsible for the boat damage and the weird sintering process (see John's posts).

Sample 2 is holding well.

Sample 3, which was not washed with acetone, shows some cracks.

Sample,   Thickness (mm),   Mass (g),  Density (g/cm3)

1    -----,  0.6254,  -----

2   5.81,  0.9229,  1.032

3   8.89,  1.1073,  0.809

The average mass before sintering was 1.9843 g. After sintering, 0.8852 g. Thus the average mass loss is 0.9757  (49.0%).

We are starting a new batch of treated powder washed with acetone without PAM.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 08:54

Yesterday, a new target boat was sprayed with TaC coating and let dried.

The boat was then installed in the Evap#2 chamber and pumped down to 10-6 Torr before the target heater was turned on.  NOTE: Target boat is not wrapped with Ta-heat shield. 

TGHT auto ramping was initiated at 2.0A/min and max setpoint to 700A.  The voltage was set at 3V; therefore, the current only ramped up to 250A over night.

--> Increased the TGHT voltage to 15A, and continue ramping the TGHT to 700A.  Currently vac at low 2.3e-7 Torr. 

 Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 09:12

The vac is at low 10e-7 as the TGHT is ramping up.  Changing ramping rate from 2A/min to 5A/min. 

Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 12:00  

TGHT reached to 700A. Measured temp @ 1280C. 

Tapped up TGHT to:

800A.  Measured temp @ 1400C. 

850A (local 843A/15.60V). Measured temp @ 1450C.  

900A (local 893A/16.88V).  Measured temp @ 1500C

 Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 14:35:

Try autoramping TGHT to 1000A but voltage has gone up close to the max limit (20V).  TGHT could only go up to ~970A (see attachment 1: TGHT_maxcurrent.jpg).  The heater remained at that current for ~1hr but auto cooling was initiated - at 10A/min.

Thursday, April 05, 2012, 16:31

Target boat contains 6 BeO pellets :

Sample,   Mass (g),   Thickness (mm),   Density (g/cm3)

1   1.2842,    5.406,        1.4647
2   1.2619,    5.150,        1.5108
3   1.2886,    5.316,        1.4946
4   1.2858,    5.310,        1.4931

5   1.3382,    5.520,        1.4948
6   1.3916,    5.650,        1.5187

Samples are made of BeO powder with 30% PVB which was treated at 400 RPM for 26 minutes. A ratio of 1:0.1 of mineral oil was added before another high speed treatment for 10 minutes. The powder was then pressed into pellets.

Pellets are loaded on a target boat coated/sintered with TaC. The target boat is wrapped with a Ta foil that is 0.002 inches thick.

**** Sintering is postponed until the situation with the ventilation in the lab06 is cleared. ****

 Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 13:45

It was discovered that one of the insulators that supported the target module broke apart (see Attachment#1).  This might be caused by the heat from the target legs that reflected back from the base to the insulators.  The burnt marks are the evidence.  

A stainless metal sheet is used as the heat shield  (see Attachment #2).