Specialists of the Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energy Physics are commissioning the key components of the cooling system of the eastern half-ring of the NICA Collider, the CC3 Cooling Centre and the WC3 Water Cooling System. Putting this equipment into operation leads to the final stage of preparing the complex for a physics run with circulating heavy ion beams.

Equipment of the СС3 Cooling Centre of the NICA Collider

СС3 and WC3 ensure regular cooling and maintain the operating temperature of dipole magnets, stations of high-frequency accelerating systems, vacuum pumps, and other equipment in the eastern half-ring and beam transport channels. The CC3 Cooling Centre includes two chillers with a capacity of 850 kW each, outdoor condensing units, dry coolers located on the roof of the experimental pavilion, and other auxiliary equipment.

According to Deputy Head of JINR’s Capital Construction Department Yuri Balandin, simultaneously with launching the cooling centre, contractor specialists are setting up automated control of engineering systems and power supply for the upcoming run. In addition, the automatic radiation monitoring system and the interlocking and alarm system were installed and put into operation for personnel to enter the accelerator complex.

All engineering work at NICA is carried out under the management of the general contractor Tavrida Energo Stroy LLC and several subcontractors from the Russian Federation. Due to the final stage of preparing the collider for the run, a record number of 119 specialists are currently involved in the work at the complex. “Without the well-coordinated team that has been working on this project for about 10 years, we would not have been able to achieve such progress,” Tavrida Energo Stroy’s Project Manager Musabeg Magomedov said. “We are optimistic about the future and will soon finish all engineering work”.

Earlier, two cooling centres (CC1, CC2) and two water cooling systems (WC1, WC2) for the collider’s technological equipment were put into operation. According to experts, the next step will be the commissioning of the CC6 Cooling Centre and the WC5 System, both designed to cool the electronics racks of the Multi-Purpose Detector.

“The NICA Accelerator Complex includes the most high-tech engineering equipment. Preparing it creates a reliable foundation for the implementation of the programme of physical experiments,” Yuri Balandin emphasised.