Recirculating Loop Application in Synchrotron Particle Accelerator

This application note provides an overview of the successful use of mechanically sealed centrifugal pumps for the recirculation of raw water in a government research application.

THE INDUSTRY

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. The synchrotron works like a giant microscope, harnessing the power of electrons to produce bright light that scientists can use to study anything from fossils to jet engines to viruses and vaccines.

The machine accelerates electrons to near light speeds so that they give off light 10 billion times brighter than the sun. These bright beams are then directed off into laboratories known as beamlines. Here, scientists use the light to study a vast range of subject matter, from new medicines and treatments for disease to innovative engineering and cutting-edge technology.

Whether it’s fragments of ancient paintings or unknown virus structures, scientists can study samples with a machine that is 10,000 times more powerful than a traditional microscope.

THE APPLICATION

Diamond Light Source is undertaking an improvement project to upgrade the machine to a 4th generation Synchrotron. This upgraded machine will offer the scientific community the opportunity to exploit much brighter photon beams and an increased coherence over a large energy range. The design increases the electron beam energy from 3.0 to 3.5 GeV. As part of this upgrade eight new RF solid state amplifiers are being installed and their associated dummy loads and circulators have a requirement for water cooling.

THE INDUSTRY

Diamond currently has a closed loop raw water system installed which is used primarily in Beamline Hutches and Laboratories as cooling water, and the operating conditions of this system match the cooling water requirements for the associated new components.

 

To account for the increased duty required in the raw water circuit, Diamond has replaced its previous centrifugal raw water pumps with two new units from Dickow Pumpen, selected and supplied by Michael Smith Engineers.