Thermal analysis of the airflow around ATLAS muon end cap

A thermal analysis of the airflow inside the UX15 cavern and through the ATLAS detector is presented. This study is done using a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model. This model includes a simplified geometry of the detector and the experimental cavern, the ventilation flow rate and the released heat dissipation figures are taken into account. This analysis aims at estimate the temperature gradients that develop in the muons end cap area. Indeed, light rays seen by CCD camera will be used in this area in order to align the muon chambers. The rays should not be too much distorted by temperature difference, which would hinder the chamber alignment. The simulation results show that a light ray projected through the whole end cap area should not encounter a gradient higher than 5 K. Nevertheless, the results of this analysis are valid if and only if the spaces represented as empty in the model are allowed to remain empty in ATLAS.