Linde Cryogenics (contractor) and Linde Kryotechnik AG (sub-contractor) have been awarded a contract by Brookhaven Science Associates to design, fabricate and install, test, and commission the complete refrigeration/liquefaction system for the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory located on Long Island, NY, USA.
NSLS-II is a medium-energy electron storage ring (3 billion electron-volts) designed to deliver world-leading intensity and brightness x-rays. To be more exact, it produces x-rays more than 10,000 times brighter than the former NSLS. The superlative character and combination of capabilities have an impact on a wide range of disciplines and scientific initiatives, including the National Institutes of Health’s structural genomics initiative and the federal nanoscience initiative.
The storage ring contains two superconducting (SC) Radiofrequency (RF) sections that boost electrons during their circulation. These two SC RF sections are cooled by an independent cryogenic system supplied by Linde Kryotechnik.
The refrigeration/ liquefaction system supplied by Linde includes:
- The gas bearing turbine-based coldbox
- The LHe dewar
- Main compressor, recovery compressor systems with oil removal, and dryer systems
- Gaseous helium storage tanks
- Valve box & manifold box
- Ambient vaporizer
- All vacuum insulated and warm process lines between the components including support structure
- Purity analyzer
- EPICS based control system and instruments
- Complete installation, commissioning, and start-up
Construction of the NSLS-II’s ring building began in March 2009. The facility started operating in 2015.
The purpose of NSLS II is to provide extremely bright x-rays for basic and applied research in biology and medicine, materials and chemical sciences, geosciences and environmental sciences, and nanoscience. NSLS-II allows scientists to observe fundamental properties with nanometer-scale resolution and atomic sensitivity. For example, new electronic materials that scale beyond silicon could be used to make faster, less expensive, energy-efficient electronics. In addition, NSLS-II allows scientists to study how materials become high-temperature superconductors and may lead to materials that allow super-efficient electricity transmission at room temperature.
For more information about NSLS II please refer to http://www.bnl.gov/ps/nsls2/about-NSLS-II.asp.