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HL-LHC IT String Day V
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Europe/Zurich
30/7-018 - Kjell Johnsen Auditorium (CERN)
Markus Zerlauth
(CERN)
Description
Scope
HL-LHC IT String Day V – Event Description
During the HL-LHC IT String Day IV in 2024 (event link), a review was conducted on the lessons learned from the installation, individual system and short-circuit-tests. The event also covered the main upcoming activities, including the sequence of cryomagnet installation, and confirmed the planned test program. Progress on the roadmap for control and software systems, as well as the advancement in drafting and approving the test procedures, was also reported.
HL-LHC IT String Day V will begin with a general introduction revisiting the recommendations from the previous IT String Day. It will also provide a status update on the project. Safety aspects related to the remaining installation work and the upcoming cold powering operation period will be presented. Additionally, the session will highlight the organization of operations, detailing key roles and responsibilities.
The main objectives of the event are outlined as follows:
a. Present lessons learned from recent activities, including installation, component interconnections, remaining individual system tests, and repeated short-circuit tests as part of the hardware commissioning phase since the last IT String Day.
b. Report on the current status of test procedures for the IT String Hardware Commissioning, including associated software tools all planned to be applicable for the HL-LHC HWC.
c. Describe upcoming activities related to the String Validation Program and the Thermal Cycle, including test results already obtained. This section will also highlight key operational parameters alongside an overview of the QA/QC processes implemented—such as visual inspections, electrical quality control, and leak detection.
d. Address the nonconformity detected in the IT String during the summer period, detailing the investigation process that followed, the mitigation measures implemented, its impact on the planning, and the possible repair strategies, with consideration for their applicability to the HL-LHC.
Advisors nominated by the HL-LHC Project Leader and the TE Department Head will be invited to provide their feedback and recommendations to the Management and share their comments with the HL-LHC WP16 core team.
Chair: Markus Zerlauth
Advisors: Rüdiger Schmidt, Philippe Lebrun
Scientific Secretary: Lucia Herrero Alvarez
Link person for the HL-LHC IT String (WP16): Marta Bajko
Invited: HLPO; ATS Director, ATS DHs; WPLs & Deputies; GLs & Deputies; Magnet Circuits Expert; Polarity Controller; participation may be extended upon proposal of GLs or WPLs.
Documentation
- HL-LHC IT String Day IV - Report
- HL-LHC IT String Day IV - Minutes
- HL-LHC IT String Day V - Report
- HL-LHC IT String Day V - Minutes
Venue
The meeting will take place at the Kjell Johnsen Auditorium (30/7-018). For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom room will be available on Indico for remote participation.
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08:30
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09:20
General session
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08:30
Feedback from the HL-LHC IT String Day IV and scope of the HL-LHC IT String Day V (WP1 / ATS-DO) 20m
This introductory talk will introduce the scope of todays 5th IT String day in light of the recent findings. The talk will also recap and reference the follow-ups done based on the recommendations of last years event, which was focused on achieving the completion of the IT String installation and prepare it for operation by the end of 2025.
Speaker: Markus Zerlauth (CERN) -
08:55
HL-LHC IT String general status, budget, schedule (2025 vs 2024) (WP16 / TE-MPE) 20m
This talk will present the status of WP16. It will begin with an overview of the budget and organisational aspects, which remain in line with expectations and represent less than 1% of the overall project cost, despite a reduced SF team. The current status of activities will then be reported: all equipment has been installed, connected, and passed quality control, with the exception of the cold masses Q2a and Q3. The readiness for operation will be described, including the organisation of activities, the definition of key roles, the agreement with Japan, completed safety analyses and risk mitigations, and the advanced state of controls and software. The talk will also review the schedule situation: until July 2025, activities were fully in line with the planning and aimed for cold powering by the end of the year, but the present non-conformity prevents the establishment of a new reliable schedule. Finally, the HL-LHC IT string leak issue will be presented, covering detection, root cause, side effects, localisation, and the ongoing repair studies, with the current preferred solution being an in situ repair with new bus bars in the NC line.
Speaker: Marta Bajko (CERN)
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08:30
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09:20
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12:05
Lessons learned
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09:20
HL-LHC IT String Technical Coordination and Safety (WP16 / ATS-DO) 20m
The presentation will cover the methodology and organizational structure behind the technical coordination of the HL-LHC IT String facility, which is nearly to completion. It will provide an in-depth update on the progress of the on-site construction and commissioning activities. Key lessons learned from the IT String's construction and commissioning will be shared, covering the technical challenges we faced, the schedule changes, and the coordination of concurrent activities. Additionally, the safety strategy implemented during construction and commissioning will be revisited and the proposed approach for operation will be presented.
Speaker: Davide Bozzini (CERN) -
09:45
Installation and Interconnection of the Magnet Systems (WP3 / TE-MSC) 20m
In this presentation, we provide a summary of the installation of the cryomagnets for the IT string, along with the main lessons learnt. Special focus is placed on extracting the most important information relevant to the inner triplet installation during Long Shutdown 3 (LS3).
We begin with a brief introduction to the magnet system and its interconnections. The initial installation plan is then outlined, including the interlink (DCM). Following the interconnection sequence, we describe, step by step, the main interventions and lessons learned: (i) Lines N insertion, (ii) Q1 to D1 connection, (iii) DCM connection, and (iv) Jumper connection. Finally, quality assurance, non-conformities, and the corresponding mitigation plans are also presented.
Speaker: Jose Ferradas Troitino (CERN) -
10:15
Group photo + Coffee break 20m
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10:35
Vacuum System Configuration & Leak Tightness Results (WP16 / TE-VSC) 20m
This presentation introduces the IT string insulation vacuum system and summarizes the status of the leak detection and tightness validation programs. After a brief reference to the vacuum equipment layout, we provide details about the vacuum equipment configuration during the commissioning phase, linking it to the recommendations and comments received during the IT string day IV. Then we provide an overview of the leak testing activities and their status, with focus on the leak/s found at the cold mass circuit, the ongoing activities, and the pending actions. In view of LS3, a series of lessons learnt are also outlined.
Speaker: Jaime Perez Espinos (CERN) -
11:05
N Lines Busbars Activities in the IT String (WP3 / TE-MSC) 25m
This report provides an overview of the busbar and cold mass activities, with a focus on the work related to the Line N system. It begins with a general introduction to the layout of the busbars and cold masses, followed by a summary of the preparatory steps for Line N, its insertion process, and the key lessons learned.
A proposed modification to the busbar layout is then presented, aimed at enabling the operation of the IT string despite the presence of leaks in N line flexibles. This proposal considers both mechanical integration constraints and cable availability. The thermo-mechanical behavior of the busbar system is discussed in detail, with emphasis on the impact of thermal contraction under the current configuration. An ongoing study attempting to characterize the cable through mechanical measurements is also described, along with its limitations. Potential technical mitigation measures are outlined.
Finally, the report introduces initial ideas for a possible upgrade of the busbar system for the High-Luminosity LHC tunnel installation, highlighting how the insights and lessons learned from the IT string motivate future developments.
Speaker: Lucie Baudin (CERN) -
11:40
Finalization of the Cold Powering System (WP6a / TE-MSC) 20m
The Cold Powering System of the ITS String was installed on the IT String 2024 – 2025. This presentation covers:
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Overview of the Cold Powering System
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Status of the Cold Powering System
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Activities since String Day IV
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Open points
Speaker: Dr Christian Barth (CERN) -
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09:20
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12:05
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13:30
Lunch break + Visit to the HL-LHC IT String 1h 25m
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13:30
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14:20
Lessons learned
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13:30
Installation & Commissioning of Full Remote Alignment System (WP19 / BE-GM) 20m
The presentation will address the following topics:
- FRAS installation activities.
- FRAS commissioning
The presentation will cover the FRAS installation activities on the magnet line as well as the infrastructure for acquisition, control systems and quality. Key lessons learnt will be presented. FRAS commissioning activities and results will be presented. First lesson learnt will be presented and status given.
Speaker: Vincent Thomas Barbarroux (CERN) -
13:55
Experience & Results on Electrical Quality Assurance (WP7 / TE-MPE) 20m
The ELQA campaign at the Inner Triplet String Facility aims to validate circuit integrity ready for safe operation, whilst also providing a valuable opportunity to collect reference data to support more reliable results validation and assist potential future fault localisation. The work has also allowed the ELQA team to refine procedures, equipment, software, and reporting based on real operational experience. The broad range of activities carried out by the ELQA team has been largely successful and prompt, while also revealing important lessons to further optimise systems and processes. This presentation will highlight these activities and the lessons learnt, as well as show how they are helping the ELQA team prepare a robust and efficient programme ready for HL-LHC installation.
Speaker: Gregory Hugh West
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13:30
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14:20
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16:20
Status & Readiness for Operations
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14:20
Cryogenics for Operations (WP16 / TE-CRG) 20m
The cryogenic system of the HL-LHC IT String was successfully commissioned in 2023-2024 in a standalone mode (without magnets and SC-link). In 2024-2025 the cryogenic system was prepared for the commissioning and operation of the HL-LHC IT String including all its components. This presentation covers:
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Follow-up on the comments from String Day IV
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Status of the cryogenic system
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Preparations for cryogenic commissioning
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Planned cryogenic commissioning and operation of HL-LHC IT String
Speaker: Aleksandra Onufrena (CERN) -
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14:45
Machine Protection Equipment (WP7 / TE-MPE) 20m
This presentation will give an overview of the status of the installation and testing of protection equipment in the IT String and its controls integration. Furthermore, the foreseen tests at before and after cool-down will be addressed.
Speaker: Daniel Wollmann (CERN) -
15:10
Coffee break 20m
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15:30
Warm Powering Equipment (WP6b / SY-EPC) 20m
This warm powering equipment talk presents the progress of the WCBB & WCP design and especially how the ElQA issue has been solved. Afterwards, the status of the HL-LHC String equipment is presented, in particular the restarting tests before the HWC of the HL-LHC String facility. Finally, the impacts of the new delay and the constraints on LHC operation and LS3 are discussed.
Speaker: Hugues Thiesen (CERN) -
15:55
Control Layers & Software for Operations (WP16 / TE-MPE) 20m
The status of the control systems and their interfaces is presented with a particular focus on the software layers essential for the powering and magnet protection tests during the IT String validation program. Ensuring integration of the new HL-LHC device types and their operational readiness requires close collaboration between development teams, equipment owners and the IT String operation team. The Dry Run tests aim at validating the functionalities of new device types and the HWC Powering applications and services.
Speaker: Sebastien Blanchard (CERN)
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14:20
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16:20
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17:15
HL-LHC IT String Validation Program
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16:20
Analysis Software for the HL-LHC IT String Validation Program (WP16 / TE-MPE) 15m
This presentation will introduce the role of the Analysis Software within the HL-LHC IT String Validation Program. The talk will highlight how this software is used to process and interpret data from the Hardware Commissioning (HWC) powering tests, which are essential to verify both the powering and protection systems of the new HL-LHC magnet circuits, as well as the overall circuit performance. Finally, a comparison will be made between the analysis approach developed for the IT String and the well-established methods already applied in the LHC, outlining the specific challenges and particularities of this validation campaign.
Speaker: Lucia Herrero Alvarez (CERN) -
16:40
Proposed Solutions for the IT String Magnet Circuits and Parameters for Operation (MCF / WP16 / TE-MPE) 25m
The presentation recalls the IT String Validation Program phases and strategy including the Quality Control/Assurance steps, individual system tests, powering tests and string-specific tests. The presentation later shows the reasons behind the adequacy in terms of quench performance of considered solution on the magnet circuits following the String leak. Finally, the parameters for operating the HL-LHC IT String are shown. These parameters for cryogenic operation, powering, quench detection, and beam operation cycles are detailed.
Speaker: Samer Yammine (CERN)
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16:20
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17:15
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17:35
Closed Session
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17:15
Closed session of the advisors 20m
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17:15
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08:30
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09:20
