1. RF-SRF Infrastructure: Operation,Maintenance&Upgrades

2. Recent History of RF-SRF and Mandate
New SRF section : cryolab activity – recovered collimator lab and refurbished to warm reception + tuning lab.
Restructuring : bldg. 252 rinsing/coating lab plus SM18 operation to SRF section, including cleanroom&testing staff + P. Maesen, no RF technician. Done CRISP upgrades for High Gradient programme. LHC Pt4?
HIE-ISOLDE cryomodules: dedicated Clean-Processing, Assembly- and Testing Infrastructure. Implemented between and now in SM18 RF space. SMA18 parts preparation under TE-MSC
Oct. 2015: In-sourcing of Crab cavity: production, processing, testing and assembling in different configurations. So far no plan for dedicated infrastructure, just some upgrading plus additional tooling. Cryostating facility to be implemented in existing SRF space in SM18.
?: SM18 side extension - additional 625 m2 for assembly/storage/shielding reinforcement.
?: bldg. 252 refurbishment: safety issues –heavy component handling plus obsolete clean processing facilities.

3. Cryolab

4. B.252 Cable channels in the underground: floor deforming under load
Crane exchange scheduled but Asbestos in the roof structure
Heating/Ventilation obsolete; lighting outdated; new rinsing/coating preparation clean booth needed; integration with assembly cleanroom desirable
Space issue for parts storage and coating activities – parallel projects suffer from bottlenecks
Right now: bring services for coating stands to safety standards plus AC - ! HSE !
Next urgent: concrete injection into cable channels – floor stabilisation!

5. SRF Space in SM18

6. LHC Pt4 upgrade

7. How to operate and maintain CP- Facilities
Cleanroom Technician for RF: rare species!!! Needs long training on the job plus specific behavioural skills. Difficult hiring !
We have 3 CR-Technicians– all 3 are complementary and account for many yrs. relevant professional experience – obviously we should keep them, isn’t it???
Project Engineers to follow-up their activities in all phases, but the clean work proper to be done by the skilled technicians. Procedures mandatory!
CP infrastructure needs regular maintenance/conditioning – the heavier it is used the more maintenance is required. There are running costs for this kind of facilities and manpower needs even if there is no project SRF assembly/test activity.

8. How to operate and maintain CP- Facilities
We provide experts advice all over CERN and we organize specific training courses for large component cleanroom activities and RF related topics – for the RF group but also for other groups at CERN (HIE-ISOLDE cryomodule, Crab project).
We are setting-up teams for on-the –job training of new section members whilst coping with the very high workload of the projects and the core tasks. More details: see dedicate talks on SRF coating, testing, assemblies etc.
Training new people to our needs is additional workload on the CP core team – efficient only if there is not too much rotation of personnel.
People receiving the training are requested to apply the instructions as received – there is no room for applying different philosphies inside the common CP space. Wrong procedures put all activities at risk!!

9. How to upgrade CP- Facilities
Needs a team including the project engineer(s), CR technicians and the section management to bundle a “project” – consultants if required.
Needs funding plus purchase expertise to kick it off.
Needs “down-time” of facilities – difficult topic these days!
Most important: Needs vision on future mandate and SRF projects to be considered for the upgrade. Difficult task if these change frequently!!
CRISP framework has helped in setting targets for multi-million CHF spending in a low-activity period. Unfortunately the focus has been on SPL 704 MHz that today seems to be the least relevant objects – even if synergy with other programmes obviously exists.

10. 2 K Cryo-Upgrade in SM18 Bldg.
RF Test facility area V3 V4 V5 V6
New helium transfer line
Vertical test stands
V3 to V6 for cavities M7 M9
Horizontal test stands
M7 and M9 for cryomodules
He supply
from 25 m3
liquid tank

11. Cavity and module test area – Cryo-upgrade
Service module in horizontal bunker
Helium tank
Cavity RF Test Area

12. New cavity reception area

13. Clean room and cavity preparation upgrade
Existing clean room upgrade and extension New clean room facility
Clean room layout
High-pressure rinsing
Ultra-pure water station
J. Chambrillon

14. SM18 side extension

15. Extension
Main entrance
70m 9m
SM18_Plan view

16. Extension building

19. Summary
Defining SRF infrastructure needs is strongly linked with the strategic management decision about the future of CERN. Results can not be obtained easily without a distinct project definition and preparation phase.
The responsibility for the operation of the infrastructure stays with the experienced SRF staff. They will make sure that the needs of different programmes are respected. Personal on temporary basis can be tolerated only to a certain extent. Loosing expertise in that field is difficult to compensate.
Todays infrastructure is not adequate for CRAB series production – needs to be assessed after the SPS module experience according to the project needs.
Additional space is required a.s.a.p