Results from the Qualification of the three Pre-series Test Cells for the LHC Cryogenic Distribution Line

Three pre-series test cells of the LHC cryogenic distribution line, manufactured by three European industrial companies, have been tested in the years 2000 and 2001 to qualify the design proposed and to verify the thermal and mechanical performances. The pre-series test cell, about 112 m long, consisted of a standard cell (about 107 m long) and an additional service module needed for test purposes. This paper summarises and compares the main results of the qualification tests to the requirements of the technical specification. Technical considerations on the measurement stability and corresponding overall error are also presented.