Cryogenic magnet tests for the LHC: process operation using web-based tools and facilities

For the Large Hadron Collider under construction at CERN, an essential requirement is the acceptance test of its 1706 Cryo-magnets in cryogenic conditions in a purpose-built facility at CERN. Several teams ensure the proper operation of the infrastructure on a round the clock basis. The cold test part is one of the key elements amongst many other essential activities requiring magnet transport and connections/disconnections, cryogenic preparation and pumping, cooling down to 1.9 K as well warm up before disconnection & removal. All these operations involve multi-tasking and usage of 12 test benches with nominal turn-round time per dipole magnet of 120 hours. It also involves multiple teams of industrial contractors, a support contract for cryogenics operation, CERN staff in magnet testing Operation, aided by a large external collaboration of visiting staff for round the clock operation. This paper gives a flavour of the operation and exposes the software tools that were necessary, designed and developed to run the magnets test facility in the most structured way, both from the global teams’ interaction point of view as well as for the cryogenic, electrical and magnetic tests management over the tests life-cycle. It explains how the complexity and the volume of tests are managed in the most automated way by our control systems and web-based management tools, using backbone database applications helping the different operation teams to work together efficiently and in harmony to meet the tight tests schedule for the LHC.