IPAC'25 - the 16th International Particle Accelerator Conference

Application of Distributed Temperature Sensing for fire and cryogenic leak detection in accelerator tunnels

THPS021

5 Jun 2025, 15:30

2h

Exhibiton Hall A _Salmon (TWTC)

Poster Presentation MC6.T18 Radiation Monitoring and Safety Thursday Poster Session

Speaker

Michael Dole (European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Description

High-energy accelerators like CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) present hazards characterized by temperature variations such as cryogenics leak or fire. Considering that LHC tunnels are large, underground and radioactive areas, traditional systems to detect these hazards can’t be used. CERN is exploring the feasibility of installing a large-scale temperature monitoring system in LHC tunnels using Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) technology. Based on optical fiber, such a system would be resistant to the LHC radioactive environment and could detect temperature changes induced by both fire and cryogenic leak events, over LHC large distances. This paper presents on going studies and a prototype of DTS equipment in the LHC tunnel installed and tested at the beginning of 2025. This publication evaluates the DTS as a safety enhancement tool for accelerator facilities. The potential improvements brought by installing a DTS in LHC tunnels will also been discussed.