From: IRBY@CMOD.PFC.MIT.EDU
Subject: Alcator C-MOD Weekly Highlights
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Organization: MIT


Alcator C-MOD Weekly Highlights
April 21, 1997


The Alcator C-Mod vacuum vessel is now being baked. Cooling of the
magnets has also begun since they must be cooled with liquid nitrogen to an
average temperature of -25C to protect them from the high temperatures.
In addition, we have begun the slow cooldown of the domes and cylinder which
are made up of about 175,000 lbs of stainless steel and require several days
to cooldown to operating temperature. The bake will last most of this week,
after which ECDC cleaning of the vessel walls will begin. We continue to
install and align diagnostics.
Much progress was made this week on the new RF systems. Coax
installations both in the cell and the power room are nearing completion.
New ignitrons for the crowbar circuits arrived and are being installed.
Water cooling systems for the new transmitters are in operation and their
temperature interlocks have been checked. HV anode cable conduits are being
installed. The FPA cavity for transmitter #4 has been assembled and
cavity position indicators for the driver/IPA have been calibrated.
Power system checkouts continue. The bus instrumentation system
is now operational, some of which is being used to control the magnet LN2
cooling. Preparations are being made for a review of changes
to the power systems to be held early this week. Low current tests of
power supply operation into the magnets are scheduled to begin later
this week.
We continued the installation of the DNB power supplies. Reassembly
of the Mod/Reg continued, and we began to develop the design changes that
are required to incorporate the new ACCEL supply. Control system design
on the fast interface between the main control system, the ACCEL supply, and
the crowbar continued.
Those of you interested in viewing the new invessel diagnostics
might check out the inspection photos at:

http://www.pfc.mit.edu/cgi/cmod_images?name=invessel/

Rick Maqueda continued his visit from LANL last week working to
install the new IR periscope. Joe Bartolick, Boris Grek, and Dave
Johnson from PPPL successfully completed the Raman calibration of the X-point
Thomson scattering diagnostic last week. John Gumpus and Gerd Schilling, also
from PPPL, continued their work with our RF group helping to bring the
new RF systems online.