A Simplified Cryogenic Distribution Scheme for the Large Hadron Collider

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), currently under construction at CERN, will make use of superconducting magnets operating in superfluid helium below 2 K. The reference cryogenic distribution scheme was based, in each 3.3 km sector served by a cryogenic plant, on a separate cryogenic distribution line which feeds elementary cooling loops corresponding to the length of a half-cell (53 m). In order to decrease the number of active components, cryogenic modules and jumper connections between distribution line and magnet strings a simplified cryogenic scheme is now implemented, based on cooling loops corresponding to the length of a full-cell (107 m) and compatible with the LHC requirements. Performance and redundancy limitations are discussed with respect to the previous scheme and balanced against potential cost savings.