Exceptional transport operations to make way for HiLumi LHC
We often hear about the remarkable components of the accelerators, but transporting this equipment sometimes requires measures that are just as impressive. Over the course of the third long shutdown (LS3), which started this summer, entire sections of the Large Hadron Collider and its detectors will be dismantled in order to make room for the […]
Over the course of the third long shutdown (LS3) of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the first two massive components of the accelerator have been removed, paving the way for the installation of new equipment for the future HiLumi machine. This complex operation involved transporting two beam dumps, 5-metre-long iron, copper and marble blocks weighing 30 tonnes each.
The removal process took place over an 8-hour journey for each piece, a task that required three years of preparation and a custom-made towing vehicle, rolling platform, and jacking system. The beam dumps, known as TAN absorbers, protect the accelerator's magnets from neutral particles produced by collisions. The trio of massive components will be replaced with new beam dumps in the upgraded HiLumi LHC, scheduled for completion in 2029.
The handling teams are preparing for many more logistical challenges as the transformation of the LHC continues.
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