Custom ultrasonic instruments have been developed for simultaneous monitoring of binary gas mixture and flow in the ATLAS Inner Detector. Sound transit times are measured in opposite directions in flowing gas. Flow rate and sound velocity are respectively calculated from their difference and average. Gas composition is evaluated in real-time by comparison with a sound velocity/composition database, based on the direct dependence of sound velocity on component concentrations in a mixture at known temperature and pressure. Five devices are integrated into the ATLAS Detector Control System. Three instruments monitor coolant leaks into N2 envelopes of the silicon microstrip and Pixel detectors. Resolutions better than ±2×10−5 and ±2×10−4 are seen for C3F8 and CO2 leak concentrations in N2 respectively. A fourth instrument detects sub-percent levels of air ingress into the C3F8 condenser of the new thermosiphon coolant recirculator. Following extensive studies a fifth instrument was built as an angled sound path flowmeter to measure the high returning C3F8 vapour flux (∼1.2kgs−1). A precision of <2.3% FS for flows up to 10ms−1 was demonstrated. These instruments have many potential applications where continuous binary gas composition measurement is required, including hydrocarbon and anaesthetic gas mixtures.

Precision ultrasonic measurements in binary gas systems provide continuous real-time monitoring of mixture composition and flow. Using custom microcontroller-based electronics, we have developed an ultrasonic instrument, with numerous potential applications, capable of making continuous high-precision sound velocity measurements. The instrument measures sound transit times along two opposite directions aligned parallel to - or obliquely crossing - the gas flow. The difference between the two measured times yields the gas flow rate while their average gives the sound velocity, which can be compared with a sound velocity vs. molar composition look-up table for the binary mixture at a given temperature and pressure. The look-up table may be generated from prior measurements in known mixtures of the two components, from theoretical calculations, or from a combination of the two. We describe the instrument and its performance within numerous applications in the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The instrument can be of interest in other areas where continuous in-situ binary gas analysis and flowmetry are required.

We investigate and address the performance limitations of the ATLAS silicon tracker fluorocarbon evaporative cooling system operation in the cooling circuits of the barrel silicon microstrip (SCT) sub-detector. In these circuits the minimum achievable evaporation temperatures with C3F8 were higher than the original specification, and were thought to allow an insufficient safety margin against thermal runaway in detector modules subject to a radiation dose initially foreseen for 10 years operation at LHC. We have investigated the cooling capabilities of blends of C3F8 with molar admixtures of up to 25% C2F6, since the addition of the more volatile C2F6 component was expected to allow a lower evaporation temperature for the same evaporation pressure.A custom built recirculator allowed the in-situ preparation of C2F6/C3F8 blends. These were circulated through a representative mechanical and thermal setup reproducing an as-installed ATLAS SCT barrel tracker cooling circuit. Blend molar compositions were verified to a precision of 3.10−3 in a custom ultrasonic instrument.Thermal measurements in a range of C2F6/C3F8 blends were compared with measurements in pure C3F8. These indicated that a blend with 25% C2F6 would allow a reduction in evaporation temperature of around 9̂C to below -15̂C, even at the highest module power dissipations envisioned after 10 years operation at LHC. Such a reduction would allow more than a factor two in safety margin against temperature dependant leakage power induced thermal runaway.Furthermore, a blend containing up to 25% C2F6 could be circulated without changes to the on-detector elements of the existing ATLAS inner detector evaporative cooling system.

Abstract The silicon tracker of the ATLAS experiment at CERN Large Hadron Collider will operate around –15°C to minimize the effects of radiation damage. The present cooling system is based on a conventional evaporative circuit, removing around 60 kW of heat dissipated by the silicon sensors and their local electronics. The compressors in the present circuit have proved less reliable than originally hoped, and will be replaced with a thermosiphon. The working principle of the thermosiphon uses gravity to circulate the coolant without any mechanical components (compressors or pumps) in the primary coolant circuit. The fluorocarbon coolant will be condensed at a temperature and pressure lower than those in the on-detector evaporators, but at a higher altitude, taking advantage of the 92 m height difference between the underground experiment and the services located on the surface. An extensive campaign of tests, detailed in this paper, was performed using two small-scale thermosiphon systems. These tests confirmed the design specifications of the full-scale plant and demonstrated operation over the temperature range required for ATLAS. During the testing phase the system has demonstrated unattended long-term stable running over a period of several weeks. The commissioning of the full scale thermosiphon is ongoing, with full operation planned for late 2015.

We describe a combined ultrasonic instrument for continuous gas flow measurement and simultaneous real-time binary gas mixture analysis. In the instrument, sound bursts are transmitted in opposite directions, which may be aligned with the gas flow path or at an angle to it, the latter configuration being the best adapted to high flow rates. The combined flow measurement and mixture analysis algorithm exploits the phenomenon whereby the sound velocity in a binary gas mixture at known temperature and pressure is a unique function of the molar concentration of the two components. The instrument is central to a possible upgrade to the present ATLAS silicon tracker cooling system in which octafluoropropane (C F ) evaporative cooling fluid would be replaced by a blend containing up to 25% hexafluoroethane (C 2 F 6 ). The instrument has been developed in two geometries following computational fluid dynamics studies of various mechanical layouts. An instrument with 45 crossing angle has been installed for commissioning in the ATLAS silicon tracker cooling system. It can be used in gas flows up to 20 000 l.min -1 and has demonstrated a flow resolution of 2.3% of full scale for linear flow velocities up to 10 m.s in preliminary studies with air. Other instruments are currently used to detect low levels of C 2 F 8 vapor leaking into the N 2 environmental gas surrounding the ATLAS silicon tracker. A long-duration continuous study of more than a year has demonstrated a sensitivity to mixture variation of better than 5.10 -5 .

We describe a combined ultrasonic instrument for gas flow metering and continuous real-time binary gas composition measurements. The combined flow measurement and mixture analysis algorithm employs sound velocity measurements in two directions in combination with measurements of the pressure and temperature of the process gas mixture.The instrument has been developed in two geometries following extensive computational fluid dynamics studies of various mechanical layouts. A version with an axial sound path has been used with binary gas flows up to 230 l.min(-1), while a version with a sound path angled at 45 degrees to the gas flow direction has been developed for use in gas flows up to 20000 l.min(-1).The instrument with the axial geometry has demonstrated a flow resolution of <= 1 % of full scale for flows up to 230 l.min(-1) and a mixture resolution of 3.10(-3) for C3F8/C2F6 molar mixtures with similar to 20 %C2F6. Higher mixture precision is possible in mixtures of gases with widely-differing molecular weight (mw): a sensitivity of < 5.10(-5) to traces of C3F8 in nitrogen (mw difference 160) has been seen in a long duration (> 1yr) continuous study.A prototype instrument with 45 degrees crossing angle has demonstrated a flow resolution of 1.9 % of full scale for linear flow velocities up to 15 ms(-1).Although this development was motivated by a requirement of the ATLAS silicon tracker evaporative fluorocarbon cooling system, the developed instrument can be used in many applications where continuous knowledge of binary gas composition is required. Applications include the analysis of hydrocarbons, vapour mixtures for semi-conductor manufacture and anaesthetic gas mixtures.

We describe a combined ultrasonic instrument for continuous gas flow measurement and simultaneous real-time binary gas mixture analysis. In the instrument, sound bursts are transmitted in opposite directions, which may be aligned with the gas flow path or at an angle to it, the latter configuration being the best adapted to high flow rates. Custom electronics based on Microchip® dsPIC and ADuC847 microcontrollers transmits 50kHz ultrasound pulses and measures transit times in the two directions together with the process gas temperature and pressure. The combined flow measurement and mixture analysis algorithm exploits the phenomenon whereby the sound velocity in a binary gas mixture at known temperature and pressure is a unique function of the molar concentration of the two components. The instrument is central to a possible upgrade to the present ATLAS silicon tracker cooling system in which octafluoropropane (C3F8) evaporative cooling fluid would be replaced by a blend containing up to 25% hexafluoroethane (C2F6). Such a blend will allow a lower evaporation temperature and will afford the tracker silicon substrates a better safety margin against leakage current-induced thermal runaway caused by cumulative radiation damage as the luminosity profile at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) increases. The instrument has been developed in two geometries following computational fluid dynamics studies of various mechanical layouts. An instrument with 45° crossing angle has been built in stainless steel and installed for commissioning in the ATLAS silicon tracker evaporative fluorocarbon cooling system. It can be used in gas flows up to 20000 l.min-1, and has demonstrated a flow resolution of 2.3% of full scale for linear flow velocities up to 10 m.s-1 in preliminary studies with air. Other instruments are currently used to detect low levels of C3F8 vapour leaking into the N2 environmental gas surrounding the ATLAS silicon tracker. Gas from several parts of the tracker is aspirated through two instruments and analyzed. A long duration continuous study of more than a year has demonstrated a sensitivity to mixture variation of better than 5.10-5. The developed instrument has many applications where continuous knowledge of binary gas composition is required. Such applications include anaesthesia, the analysis of hydrocarbon mixtures, and vapour mixtures for semiconductor manufacture.

Precision sound velocity measurements can simultaneously determine binary gas composition and flow. We have developed an analyzer with custom microcontroller-based electronics, currently used in the ATLAS Detector Control System, with numerous potential applications. Three instruments monitor C3F8 and CO2 coolant leak rates into the nitrogen envelopes of the ATLAS silicon microstrip and Pixel detectors. Two further instruments will aid operation of the new thermosiphon coolant recirculator: one of these will monitor air leaks into the low pressure condenser while the other will measure return vapour flow along with C3F8/C2F6 blend composition, should blend operation be necessary to protect the ATLAS silicon tracker under increasing LHC luminosity. We describe these instruments and their electronics.

The ATLAS silicon tracker community foresees an upgrade from the present octafluoropropane (C 3 F 8 ) evaporative cooling fluid to a composite fluid with a probable 10-20% admixture of hexafluoroethane (C 2 F 6 ). Such a fluid will allow a lower evaporation temperature and will afford the tracker silicon substrates a better safety margin against leakage current-induced thermal runaway caused by cumulative radiation damage as the luminosity profile at the CERN Large Hadron Collider increases. Central to the use of this new fluid is a new custom-developed speed-of-sound instrument for continuous real-time measurement of the C 3 F 8 /C 2 F 6 mixture ratio and flow. An acoustic vapour mixture analyzer/flow meter with new custom electronics allowing ultrasonic frequency transmission through gas mixtures has been developed for this application. Synchronous with the emission of an ultrasound `chirp' from an acoustic transmitter, a fast readout clock (40 MHz) is started. The clock is stopped on receipt of an above threshold sound pulse at the receiver. Sound is alternately transmitted parallel and anti-parallel with the vapour flow for volume flow measurement from transducers that can serve as acoustic transmitters or receivers. In the development version, continuous real-time measurement of C 3 F 8 /C 2 F 6 flow and calculation of the mixture ratio is performed within a graphical user interface developed in PVSS-II, the Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition standard chosen for LHC and its experiments at CERN. The described instrument has numerous potential applications - including refrigerant leak detection, the analysis of hydrocarbons, vapour mixtures for semi-conductor manufacture and anesthetic gas mixtures.

An upgrade to the ATLAS silicon tracker cooling control system may require a change from C3F8 (octafluoro-propane) to a blend containing 10-30% of C2F6 (hexafluoro-ethane) to reduce the evaporation temperature and better protect the silicon from cumulative radiation damage with increasing LHC luminosity. Central to this upgrade is a new acoustic instrument for the real-time measurement of the C3F8/C2F6 mixture ratio and flow. The instrument and its Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software are described in this paper. The instrument has demonstrated a resolution of 3.10 -3

The innermost part of the ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) experiment, which is currently under construction at the LHC ( Large Hadron Collider), will be a silicon pixel detector comprised of 1744 individual detector modules. To operate these modules, the readout electronics, and other detector components, a complex power supply and control system is necessary. The specific powering and control requirements, as well as the custom made components of our power supply and control systems, are described. These include remotely programmable regulator stations, the power supply system for the optical transceivers, several monitoring units, and the Interlock System. In total, this comprises the Pixel Detector Control System (DCS).

The CLEO-III silicon vertex detector is a 4-layer device with double-sided silicon sensors arranged in a barrel design, covering 93% of the solid angle. After initially meeting its design goals of signal-to-noise performance and spatial resolution, the signal efficiency deteriorated on the rφ sensor side in the two innermost layers due to radiation induced sensor effects. Operation of the two outermost layers and the z-coordinate readout in all layers is stable.

The design and operation of the CLEO III silicon vertex detector is described in this report. This detector consists of four layers of double-sided silicon wafers covering 93% of the solid angle. After initially meeting its signal-to-noise and spatial resolution design goals, the r−φ side efficiency of layers 1 and 2 decreased dramatically due to radiation-induced sensor effects.

Recent progress on designs of flexible circuits for the ATLAS pixel detector will be discussed. Thin flexible circuits can be used to provide power and signal connections between front-end (FE) readout chips and data acquisition chips on the pixel detector module. Fabrication of a prototype design has been completed and test beam measurements with a 16 FE chip flex module gave an efficiency of 98.4% and a position resolution of 13.8μm for clusters consisting of one or two pixels.

CLEO III is the new experimental phase of the CLEO experiment at the CESR accelerator. Both the accelerator and the detector have recently been upgraded. A new charged particle tracking system with the addition of a ring imaging Cherenkov particle identification system has been installed. A major part of the tracking system upgrade was the construction of a new four-layer double-sided silicon tracker with 93% solid angle coverage and new readout electronics. The CLEO III upgrade was completed in February 2000 with the installation of the silicon detector. CLEO III has finished the commissioning phase and is now taking data. The design of the detector and first performance results are presented here.

We have measured a signal‐to‐noise of 37:1 at room temperature for 227 GeV pions at Fermilab on the n(ohmic)‐side of a Hamamatsu AC‐coupled double‐sided silicon microstrip detector with 0.64 cm long strips. Position resolutions at normal incidence of 3.5±0.4 μm (10.4±0.5 μm) were obtained for the p‐side (n‐side) which had 25 μm (50 μm) pitch and 50 μm readout. The effects of radiation damage on the n‐side have also been measured with a 60Co source. Phase‐gain measurements imply that the accumulation layer bias capacitance and AC‐coupling capacitance are constant with dose up to 5 Mrad with values of 1.2 pf and 12 pf per strip respectively. The bias resistance per strip has a value of ∼0.8 MΩ at 0 and 5 Mrad and ∼0.4 MΩ at doses of 20–100 Krad.