Leak checker data acquisition system
J. Payne, J. Gannon · 2002
A portable, high speed, computerized, data logging system is proposed. The primary function of this system is to collect 'helium readings' from mass spectrometers. This system monitors up to 14 mass spectrometers, operating from as far away as 1 kilometer, or clustered to isolate a helium leak within 20 cm. Data logging enables technicians to witness the flight of the helium through the magnet string by a graphical plotting of every channel within microseconds of when the helium was released into the vacuum. The readings are used to locate vacuum leaks and provide acceptance testing of the vacuum system for a string of superconducting magnets. The secondary functions of this system are the documentation of test conditions, archiving data sets for future reference, and providing a real-time display of all channels as the string of magnets approach critical test conditions.>