Speaker
Description
A reliable device interface is essential for long-term accelerator operation. In the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) control system, many devices are integrated with Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) input/output controllers (IOCs) through TCP/IP-based socket communication. Although this approach is flexible and cost-effective, reconnection after an unexpected power loss or restart of a device or network switch is not always successful, and recovery may require restarting the IOC. To improve reliability and maintainability, Ethernet-based industrial field networks, such as EtherCAT and EtherNet/IP, were proposed for the future RIBF Facility Upgrade Project*. Following a recommendation from the CSR1 Technical Advisory Committee to evaluate the proposed technologies in an existing accelerator facility, EtherNet/IP was implemented in the RIKEN linear accelerator (RILAC) control system as one of the candidate field networks. The system currently consists of one scanner and 16 adapters with a requested packet interval of 10 ms and is used for Faraday cup, beam attenuator, and vacuum control. The existing EPICS process variable names and graphical user interfaces were retained without modification. The system was used in routine RILAC operation, including beam operation for experiments using the superconducting RIKEN linear accelerator (SRILAC), from September 2025 through July 2026. During this period, except during scheduled maintenance, the IOC was not rebooted, and no interruption of device control attributable to EtherNet/IP communication occurred. Automatic recovery after planned power cycling was also confirmed.
Funding Agency
This research was performed by the commissioned research fund provided by F-REI (JPFR 25040201).
Footnotes
- https://www.nishina.riken.jp/researcher/RIBFupgrade/
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