Converteam to give new life to CERN Particle Accelerator

Massy, June 2010 - Converteam, the power conversion specialist, has delivered the first ever 60MW static power supply, based on capacitive energy storage, for one of the accelerators housed by CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) Laboratory, one of the world’s largest research centers.

The Proton Synchrotron is the oldest CERN particle accelerator and is aimed at boosting particles to nearly the speed of light. Initially powered by a rotating machine in operation since 1968, the accelerator will now be equipped by a new power system, called POPS (POwer for PS) which offers an integrated 14 MJ energy capacity storage, avoiding to draw all the power from the grid.
The power converters supplied by Converteam are used to convert the AC power supplied by the grid into DC power, so that it can be stored in the 60-ton capacitor banks. This energy is then transferred to the magnets—and then back again—through a system of 14 power converters arranged in a unique architecture.

On May 6, 2010, Converteam was awarded a prize for its contribution to this key project during the official hand over of the system to CERN.

“Converteam’s power supply solutions have been selected by the CERN to extend the life of the Proton Synchrotron. Once again we were able to prove that our lifecycle approach represents the best choice in reinjecting innovative technologies into existing assets”, explains Florent Battistella, Vice CEO at Converteam.

The system will now undergo a testing period and is expected to be connected to the accelerator in 2012.

 

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