WEPLATE WP8 6DOF ALIGNMENT PLATFORM

In the context of the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) upgrade at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) known as HL-LHC (High Luminosity LHC) which will increase the LHC luminosity (rate of collisions) by a factor of five beyond the original design value and the integrated luminosity (total collisions created) by a factor ten, WP8 (Work Package 8) proposed a new alignment platform concept for the alignment of TANB (Target Absorber Neutrals) being installed in LS2 (Long Shutdown 2) at Point 8. The increase of luminosity expected at Point 8 will create a shower of secondary forward particles, namely of neutrals (mostly neutrons and photons) and charged particles (mostly pions and protons), that will leave the interaction point 8 in both directions towards the machine creating a non-negligible energy deposition in the region. TANB main function will be as a protective absorber for the dipole D2. This continuous deposition during HL-LHC Run 3 and Run 4 will activate the TANB rendering any human activity in the region conditioned to very strict and short timed periods. Among this activities alignment is placed as one of the most time consuming and one that obliges a closer proximity with the TANB absorber mainly due to the current design of the “standard” CERN alignment platforms. Inserted in the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) approach the new alignment platform presented takes the design of the “standard” CERN alignment platform and through simple modifications moves the actuators for each degree of freedom to the foreseen intervention side facilitating its access, improving the ergonomics of the alignment operations and principally decreasing the alignment operation time for the equipment mitigating the exposure of the professionals to the activated area.