The SNS Run Permit System

TL;DR

The paper describes the design and functionality of the Run Permit System (RPS) for the SNS, a critical safety and coordination software for the accelerator's operation, ensuring safe beam operation and system integrity.

Contribution

It introduces the RPS architecture and its integration with the Machine Protection System and timing system for the first time.

Findings

RPS effectively coordinates machine mode and beam parameters.

It verifies hardware configurations of the Machine Protection System.

Provides interface for masking hardware inputs when needed.

Abstract

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is an accelerator-based neutron source being built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, by the U.S. Department of Energy. The SNS will provide the most intense pulsed neutron beams in the world for scientific research and industrial development. The facility is scheduled for completion in 2006. The project is a collaboration between Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Argonne National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Brookhaven National Lab, and Jefferson Lab. The Run Permit System (RPS) is a software based system which has several key functions critical for safe operation of the machine. It coordinates machine mode and beam parameter changes with the timing system, verifies the Machine Protection System (MPS) hardware configuration, and provides an interface for masking MPS hardware inputs when necessary. This paper will describe the primary functionality of the Run Permit System and the interface between the Run Permit System, the Machine Protection System, and the timing system.