| The TSF-f facility |
The TSF-f facility is a dedicated cryostat working exactly in the same conditions as the TSF facility; only the size of the line and the mass flow rates are different: it is therefore a very reliable test bench for helium sensors. Such a facility is today available at the CNRS/Institute Neel, but it is not very convenient for access to external users. Therefore a new cryostat is under study at CEA, and it will be available beginning of 2009. This smaller and flexible liquid helium cryostat will be used to achieve smaller scale experiments, but with high Reynolds numbers. Due to its flexibility, it can be used to develop and calibrate the instrumentation for further use in the TSF facility, or in any cryogenic facility. It will be equipped to work both in normal subcooled liquid helium or in subcooled superfluid. If needed, a small removable circulating pump will enable flow to test some sensors.
Services currently offered by the infrastructure: CEA/SBT offers two kinds of service: (i) direct access to the facility, and (ii) commissioned research. In the first case the user attends the facility and performs himself the experiment. Technical assistance from the permanent staff at CEA/SBT is provided in the following domains: * preparation of the experiment, and adaptation of the facility to the user requirements; in some cases it is necessary to plan well in advance the experiment in case a CAD designer from CEA will be needed to make the necessary adaptations. * installation of the experiment in the cryostat, together with electrical connections of the sensors * the refrigerator will be run by the permanent staff and the flow conditions adjusted according to the user requirements by the permanent staff, as it is a highly technical work. In the case of commissioned research, everything will be installed and run by our permanent staff according to the specifications given by the users. * the refrigerator will be run by the permanent staff and the flow conditions adjusted according to the user requirements by the permanent staff, as it is a highly technical work. In the case of commissioned research, everything will be installed and run by our permanent staff according to the specifications given by the users. |