VACUUM SYSTEMS SEALING PROBLEMS IN ACCELERATOR TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

With the development of modern science and technology, the use and modernization of particle accelerators are becoming more relevant and promising. Research and experiments in the field of elementary particle physics are carried out on various types of accelerator equipment. The modernization is based on improving both the characteristics of the entire accelerator and some parameters of its specific unit or even a sub-unit.

As it is known, almost all accelerator components have flanges that are used in different places for their intended purpose. In particular, for connecting waveguides of different diameters, connecting any unit measuring devices, vacuum gauges, or direct closure of the unit. The degree of sealing of the flanges has a strong influence on the beam parameters, since the degree of vacuum has a great impact on the working parameters of the beam. Austenitic stainless steel, high-strength aluminum alloys and dispersion strengthened copper alloys are used as materials for flange connections. These materials have limited parameters in terms of strength characteristics. Repeated assembly and disassembly of such joints leads to subsequent deformation of the flanges. Experiments have shown that during the sealing of flanges, not only the gasket, but also the flanges are plastically deformed. This phenomenon limits the multiple usage of flanges.

The work studies the currently known standard and non-standard models of ultrahigh vacuum flanges, gaskets and methods of their sealing. As the main task, a comparative analysis of the design of flange assemblies is carried out.