Performance of CERN LHC Main Dipole Magnets on the Test Bench From 2008 to 2016

Abstract: Throughout 2015 and 2016, the LHC is operated with a current in the main dipoles of 10980 A, equivalent to a proton-proton collision energy of 13 TeV in the center of mass. A total of 175 training quenches were needed in 2014 in the 1232 main dipole magnets installed in the LHC at CERN to reach operational conditions. Since 2008, a number of dipole magnets have been removed from the LHC and were, sometimes after repairs of nonconformities, retested in the CERN based SM18 magnet test facility up to ultimate current. Other magnets have been retested after long storage. The results confirm earlier findings that some magnets series are more prone to quenching than others after thermal cycle. The correlation between a short and long thermal cycle is under investigation. Special cases with many thermal cycles will be highlighted and a new magnet series, fully produced at CERN is introduced. Results of a quench heater fatigue test, assessing the long-term reliability of the quench heaters, will be given. The results of repairs following high internal splice resistances are discussed.