Control & Monitoring System Update

Contributors:Brian Martlew - Daresbury Laboratory - STFC

James Leaver - Imperial CollegePierrick Hanlet - Fermilab

04/20/23 2

Management ‘Reshuffle’• New Online Group recently announced

– Aims to ensure smooth running of data acquisition, controls & monitoring, online reconstruction & MLCR

• Controls & Monitoring Leader (JL):

– Identify control requirements of each section of MICE

– Decide on most appropriate solution

– Coordinate the effort of those involved in implementing agreed solution

• Define work packages to be undertaken by DL or other appropriate groups in the Collaboration

• DL remain in charge of EPICS infrastructure - and continue to be most important EPICS resource

James Leaver - Imperial College

04/20/23 3

Infrastructure

04/20/23 4

Individual Project Status Updates

• Decay Solenoid & Cryogenic System

• Hydrogen System

• Target

• Target Beam Loss Monitors

• Fermilab Beam Position Monitors

• Tracker

James Leaver - Imperial College

04/20/23 5

Decay Solenoid & Cryogenic System

• Implemented automatic operation sequences for warm up & cool down of cryo system

• Separate PID loop control of either pressure or level with automatic selection based on real-time measurements

• Readout of the Linde fridge via EPICS using an OPC (OLE for Process Control) gateway

• Remote monitoring of the fridge via a web interface

• Upgrades to the EPICS control system to include additional vacuum monitoring & interlocks

• Further upgrades in progress to control additional instrumentation on the insulating vacuum

Brian Martlew - Daresbury Laboratory

04/20/23 6

Hydrogen System

• Training on Functional Safety Requirements (IEC61508) & techniques for the selection of an appropriate System Integrity Level (SIL) for control & monitoring of Hydrogen System

• Various PLC systems under evaluation for use in control of Hydrogen System & integration into EPICS for remote monitoring

Brian Martlew - Daresbury Laboratory

04/20/23 7

Target

• Design of extra monitoring & interlocks for Target Chiller complete

• Test & commissioning will take place in near future

• Addition of a “dip permit” derived from combination of Personnel Safety & temperature monitoring interlocks

Brian Martlew - Daresbury Laboratory

04/20/23 8

Target Beam Loss Monitors

• BLM IOC supplies interface to data archive written by local DAQ

• Clients provide virtual scope display, history plots & analysis

• Functionally complete

– Refinements in progress

Pierrick Hanlet - Fermilab

DAQ

04/20/23 9

FNAL Beam Position Monitors

• FNAL BPM software complete

• Added temperature monitoring for electrical safety

• Used for BPM calibration last month

James Leaver - Imperial College

04/20/23 10

Tracker

• AFEIIt configuration, control & monitoring software complete

• Successfully tested with DATE using Tracker 1 cosmic ray stand

– Has become default control system for normal operation

• Finalisation of DATE integration details required

James Leaver - Imperial College

04/20/23 11

Suggested Improvements• Currently have a collection of EPICS-compatible subsystems

need to combine into single integrated control system

– Use Alarm Handler

• Standard EPICS tool that can warn operators of dangerous/abnormal conditions (if properly configured)

• Input from MICE community: which systems/parameters should trigger alarms?

– Extend use of Archiver

• Presently used for cryo monitoring - not yet widely used elsewhere

• Input from MICE community: which parameters should be archived?

– Further use of web interfaces for remote monitoring

– Scripting languages for automation

• Perl, Python, Tcl/Tk, etc.

– Above all, make use of the vast range of existing EPICS solutions – DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL!

Brian Martlew - Daresbury Laboratory

04/20/23 12

Conclusions & Next Steps

• Good progress with individual projects

• Need concerted effort to integrate all existing systems into a coherent whole

– Using existing EPICS tools wherever possible

• Need to agree upon what additional controls/monitors are required…

• …and establish standard routines for initiating & coordinating new work

• Any help & suggestions from the MICE community are most welcome

James Leaver - Imperial College