LANSCE Beam Current Limiter (XL)

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:434844

Gallegos, F R; Hall, M J

The Radiation Security System (RSS) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) is an engineered safety system that provides personnel protection from prompt radiation due to accelerated proton beams. The Beam Current Limiter (XL), as an active component of the RSS, limits the maximum average current in a beamline, thus the current available for a beam spill accident. Exceeding the pre-set limit initiates action by the RSS to mitigate the hazard (insertion of beam stoppers in the low energy beam transport). The beam limiter is an electrically isolated, toroidal transformer and associated electronics. The device was designed to continuously monitor beamline currents independent of any external timing. Fail-safe operation was a prime consideration in its development. Fail-safe operation is defined as functioning as intended (due to redundant circuitry), functioning with a more sensitive fault threshold, or generating a fault condition. This report describes the design philosophy, hardware, implementation, operation, and limitations of the device.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 434844
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--96-3569; CONF-970134--8; ON: DE97001580
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM CURRENTS
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
ION SOURCES
LINEAR ACCELERATORS
OPERATION
PROMPT GAMMA RADIATION
PROTON BEAMS
RADIATION PROTECTION
SAFETY