Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
                 January 16, 2007
				

Physics
-------

Follow-on meetings to the C-Mod Ideas Forum were held last week on
MHD, Lower Hybrid, Diagnostics and Operations, and the Integrated
Scenarios (Advanced Scenarios) thrust.  All follow-on meetings have
now been held and summaries may be found at:

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/cmod/sciprogram/ideas2007/


Operations
----------

The diesel generators that provide emergency backup power for the
alternator and other critical C-Mod systems were successfully tested
last week along with the system transfer switches.  This test is done
before beginning a C-Mod run campaign.

The liquid nitrogen distribution block on the South cell wall has been
removed for service and reconfiguration. The block will be fitted with
new liquid nitrogen valves and insulation, and will be prepared to
service both the DNB and the new in-vessel cryopump.

A tablet PC based checklist for alternator startup has been developed
for use during the next run campaign.  The tablet PC will be carried
by the technician as the checklist is performed, and the results will
be archived.

Installation of the new upper chamber Rogowski coil cabling was
completed last week.  Fabrication of components for bolometry,
polarimetry, and other diagnostic systems continued.


Cryopump
--------

All fit-ups of the C-Mod upper chamber cryopump have been completed
and all components are now prepared for installation.  Last Friday a
meeting was held to go over installation plans and resolve any last
remaining issues before installation of the pump begins early this
week.


Long Pulse Diagnostic Neutral Beam
----------------------------------

The gatevalve between the Long Pulse DNB and C-Mod has been
reinstalled. The DNB water cooling system is operational. The liquid
helium gantry and vacuum lines have been re-installed. High voltage
racks #6 and #7 have been moved into position and reconnected. The
vacuum system has been reassembled, and control and vacuum gauge
installations have been completed.  The DNB vacuum chamber is now
under vacuum.


Lower Hybrid System
-------------------

A teleconference with the vendor for the klystron circulators was held
last week.  After detailed discussions with the vendor about the
faults that had been observed, and the construction of the
circulators, one of the circulators was partially disassembled and
repaired.  The circulator has been successfully operated with 1 second
pulses at 250 kW.  We will continue to inspect, repair, and test the
remaining circulators.

Tests of the E-Plane waveguide prototype at 2 to 8 times the peak
power expected during operation (depending on the assumed reflection
coefficient) have been successfully completed.  The gap and offset of
the waveguide sections were varied during these tests to simulate
potential assembly and fabrication errors.


ICRF Systems
------------

The inter-rack cabling between cabinets has been completed for
the Fast Ferrite Tuner (FFT).  A terminal block assembly is also in
place to manage the fan out connections from the cables to the PLC and
other locations.  The first draft of the program for the CPLD (Complex
Programmable Logic Device) board has been completed and is being
tested. The overload and sensor units should be operational in a few
days.
_______________________________________________
Cmod_weekly mailing list
Cmod_weekly@lists.psfc.mit.edu
http://lists.psfc.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cmod_weekly