1. Naomi Wyles ASTeC STFC Daresbury Laboratory
ERLP Commissioning
Naomi Wyles
ASTeC
STFC Daresbury Laboratory

2. Overview of ERLP Achievements so far
Both super conducting linac modules cooled to 2K
Synchronisation of RF and photo-injector drive laser
High power RF tests for linac module
Commissioning of terawatt laser for Compton back scattering and electro-optic bunch length diagnostic
Electron Gun
DC Photocathode Electron Gun
First electrons obtained in August 2006

3. Overview of ERLP Gun Power Supply Gun Super Conducting Booster
1st (outward) Arc
Energy Recovery Linac
2nd (return) Arc
Transfer Line
Beam Dump

4. Commissioning Tasks
Construction of ERLP is not yet complete
Commissioning has taken place in the following areas
Photoinjector laser system
This was installed and commissioned prior to the gun being ready
Further enhancements made after the first phase of gun commissioning
The electron gun is currently beaming into a dedicated diagnostic beamline
All radiation control systems complete
Cryogenic system has been commissioned to 2K
Usually possible in parallel with construction work
RF System
Buncher cavity, transverse deflecting cavity and main SC accelerating modules are all being commissioned at present

5. Planning the commissioning
The electron gun is being commissioned using a dedicated diagnostic beamline
Dedicated diagnostics include horizontal and vertical slits, YAG screens, transverse deflecting cavity and an energy analyser magnet
This will be removed when gun commissioning is complete
At the same time the remainder of ERLP is being constructed
Lead time for the delivery of the SC linac modules was significantly longer than anything else
Problems with building and commissioning the gun
Problems in achieving XHV braze between gun ceramic and metal flanges lead to delays in gun construction
Additional problems while operating the gun led to serious delays in gun commissioning
Gun commissioning is now on the critical path
Construction programme is running well

6. Commissioning and construction conflicts (health and safety)
Construction and commissioning have to be separated in time
Construction during office hours
Commissioning overnight and at weekends
This pattern means work has to be carefully controlled to avoid any conflicts
Permit to Work (PtW) system (already used at Daresbury in other areas so staff are familiar with it)
Includes a Risk Assessment and a Written System of Work
Not practical to cancel every permit before every commissioning shift
Handover procedure has been developed

7. Handover procedure
ERLP has a site manager who will know what work is going on and what permits are outstanding
The handover manager is responsible for the handover procedure being followed correctly
A handover sheet must be completed
Handover procedure
The site manager checks that there are no outstanding PtWs that prevent commissioning
The site and handover managers tour the accelerator area checking for people and making notes of hazards
The site manager then issues a PtW for the commissioning and releases the keys for machine operation
The Key commissioning team member then reads and signs the handover sheet
The handover sheet and PtW are kept on display and must be read by subsequent Key Commissioning team members
The handover sheet also specifies what must be done to return from commissioning to construction

8. Handover Sheet

9. Commissioning and construction conflicts (staff availability)
Most staff do not work on ERLP full time
Commissioning team are mainly accelerator physicists and technologists who work on other projects as well
Construction team are also involved in other projects, particularly the SRS which has a schedule written many months in advance
The running of the SRS has to take priority over ERLP because it is a user facility

10. Scheduling and Shifts Commissioning uses a 3 shift system
Weekdays only shifts 1 and 3; construction in shift 2
Weekends/Holidays all 3 shifts used
Flexibility about when construction ends
Staff work shifts on a casual basis – average of 1 per week
Availability collected (which is expected to be ‘reasonable’) on an Excel spreadsheet
Roster produced based on this
Macro sends Outlook appointments
No problems due to large pool of people
Smaller pool of people would require fixed shifts

11. Commissioning team Every beam commissioning shift requires 2 people
One must be a member of the ‘Key Commissioning Team’
Responsible for leading technical work
Responsible for personnel and machine safety
Key Commissioning team members only devote 30% of their time to commissioning
They undertake additional training
Laser safety
General Health and Safety
Second team member does not have such a large commitment to the project
They are expected to be interested and enthusiastic

12. Training
All personnel who wish to enter the ERLP accelerator areas must have undertaken basic radiation safety training (or be accompanied at all times by someone who has)
Enforced by access control system using ID badges
Commissioning team have additional training in the Personnel Safety System
Includes how to carry out a search
If there was a radiation incident the SRS crew would be called and are responsible for implementing action
Key commissioning team have additional training
4 day health and safety course which is being rolled out to everyone with management or project responsibilities
Laser training – enables them to switch the laser on and off thus not requiring a laser specialist to be present at all times

13. Documentation ERLP Safety Handbook
Issued to all key commissioning team members and other relevant staff
Covers how safety is organised
Lists those with specific safety responsibilities and what those responsibilities are
Details procedures for carrying out all kinds of work
Content is presented during basic safety training
Local rules
All commissioning team members must be familiar with these

14. Documentation ELOG Log for recording work in shifts
Fault reporting system which automatically s relevant specialist
ERLP Manual
ERLP Manual is slowly being replaced by a Wiki-style manual
This records and saves all versions
Web based so can be accessed off site
Project plan
This is live and enables people to see when the next commissioning period will begin
During commissioning there is a much more detailed shift by shift plan
Fine detail only added near the time
Reports
These are written after the work is discussed at a weekly meeting

15. Communication Meetings are held on a regular basis
During construction daily meeting at 09:00 to discuss day’s work and any conflicts with commissioning
A weekly planning meeting is also held for construction issues
During commissioning a daily meeting is held at 16:00 to discuss the next 24 hours commissioning
All commissioning team members who have been on shift in the last 24 hours or who are due on shift in the next 24 hours are expected to attend (except the night shift)
Weekly commissioning review takes place attended by all key commissioning team members and as many others as possible. Discusses previous week’s work and identifies reports to be written. Plans the next week’s work.

16. Conclusion
Successful method of simultaneous construction and commissioning
Satisfies Health and Safety requirements
Significant progress has been made in spite of technical difficulties

17. Useful Links