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Michigan State University, one of the leading nuclear physics research institutes, relies on Spectrum Controls' 32 channel Analog Input Modules to monitor signals that are vital to the control and operation of their particle accelerator. A Cyclotron is a device used to accelerate charged elementary particles or ions to high energies. Particle accelerators are some of the largest and most expensive instruments used by physicists. There are three systems that must be monitored to maintain the control and operation of the Cyclotron. |
Power Supply: The power supply system provides the power for the super conducting magnets, which are used to control and contain the particle beam. The Spectrum analog input module closely monitors the power leads for each super conductor. Any small change in the potential across the leads can signify that the flow or level of the cooling medium (Liquid Helium) has dropped to a critical level. The Spectrum analog input modules closely monitor the liquid helium pressure and level information. Data is then read into a PC-based data acquisition system.
Cryogenic plant: This is where the liquid helium, used to cool the super conducting magnets, is produced. The Helium gas goes through a process of compression and expansion converting it to a liquid form. The gas is compressed by using high-speed turbines. The liquid helium is then cooled from 40° Kelvin to 4° Kelvin using heat exchangers with liquid nitrogen as the cooling medium.
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The Spectrum 32 channel high-density analog input modules monitor temperatures, pressures, turbine speeds, flow rates and vessel levels. These signals play a key role in the production and control of the cryogenic plant. |
Vacuum System: The outer insulating layer or jacket of each super-conducting magnet is a vacuum. The Spectrum analog input module monitors the absolute pressure and temperature of the vacuum jacket. The Cyclotron has over 1000 analog inputs that are monitored by Spectrum modules. The modules were chosen for their high channel density, input filter 16-bit accuracy, user definable input filters and low price-per-point.
| Spectrum Controls Quantum Modules | |
| 140 AUI 040 00sc | 16-Channel Universal Analog Input Current/Voltage/Thermocouple/RTD |
| 140 ACI 050 00sc | 32-Channel Current Only Analog Input |
| 140 AVI 050 00sc | 32-Channel Voltage Only Analog Input |
| 140 ACI 051 00sc | 32-Channel Selectable Current/Voltage Analog Input |
| 140 ACI 052 00sc | 32-Channel Current/Voltage Selectable with Time Stamp option |
