Development of a Vacuum Leak Test Method for Large-scale Superconducting Magnet Test Facilities

摘要

Japan Atomic Energy Agency(JAEA)has developed leak detection technology for liquid helium temperature experiments in large-scale superconducting magnet test facilities.In JAEA,a cryosorption pump that uses an absorbent cooled by liquid nitrogen with a conventional helium leak detector,is used to detect helium gas that is leaking from pressurized welded joints of pipes and valves in a vacuum chamber.The cryosorption pump plays the role of decreasing aerial components,such as water,nitrogen and oxygen,to increase the sensitivity of helium leak detection.The established detection sensitivity for helium leak testing is 10~(-10)to 10~(-9)Pam~3/s.A total of 850 welded and mechanical joints inside the cryogenic test facility for the ITER Central Solenoid Model Coil(CSMC)experiments have been tested.In the test facility,73 units of glass fiber-reinforced plastic(GFRP)insulation break are used.The amount of helium permeation through the GFRP was recorded during helium leak testing.To distinguish helium leaks from insulation-break permeation,the helium permeation characteristic of the GFRP part was measured as a function of the time of helium charging.Helium permeation was absorbed at 6 h after helium charging,and the detected permeation is around 10~(-7)Pam~3/s.Using the helium leak test method developed,CSMC experiments have been successfully completed.