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Ph.D. Thesis - Physics

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1. Open the safety valve on the DMX-20. This is the only manually-controllable valve<br />

on that system.<br />

2. Start a flow of helium gas through the DMX-20. Normally, you want to hear a faint<br />

flow of gas out the valve.<br />

3. Reduce the pressure somewhat, then slowly close the valve so that the helium begins to<br />

make the bellows expand. After the bellows expands a good deal, or stops expanding,<br />

release the pressure using the manual valve.<br />

4. Repeat this process at least five times. The idea is simply to thoroughly flush out the<br />

DMX-20.<br />

5. Reduce the pressure from the gas cylinder slightly, then close off the valve. The<br />

steady-state pressure should leave the bellows somewhat expanded.<br />

As the system cools, one may observe the bellows contracting as the pressure of gas<br />

inside falls. If this happens, there is not quite sufficient pressure to the bellows. Increase,<br />

very slowly, the pressure until the bellows is slightly expanded. Also, aside from the helium<br />

used for flushing the system, there should be very little helium expended while running the<br />

cryostat. If the reading of the pressure inside the gas cylinder is visibly declining over a<br />

period of days, then either too much pressure is being supplied to the DMX-20, or there<br />

is a leak in the system. If a leak is suspected, make sure that all Swagelok connections<br />

are tight, and cannot be rotated. Leaks not only waste expensive UHP helium, but more<br />

seriously, can permit contaminants inside the DMX-20. This may permit water or nitrogen<br />

to freeze inside the bellows, creating a thermal short to the outside and destroying vibration<br />

isolation. If this occurs, the system must be warmed back up, and the bellows flushed again.<br />

C.2 Turning on the compressor<br />

Before turning on the compressor, the chilled water supply to and from the compressor<br />

must be opened (turn both handles at once). The compressor is turned on by insuring that<br />

the circuit breaker switch is in the “on” position (flipped up), and then flipping the green<br />

switch, which will light up when the compressor is on. Immediately, you should hear the<br />

motor begin to run, and also hear the pumping noise at about 2 Hz. The pressure gauge<br />

for the supply line will rise to > 300 psi, and should increase periodically, in time with the<br />

pumping action.<br />

If the motor begins running, but there is no periodic pumping (as evidenced by lack<br />

of sound and/ or pressure variation), then a blown fuse is the most likely culprit. On the<br />

front of the compressor, there are two easily accessible fuses. A fast-acting 250 V, 2 A fuse<br />

is required.<br />

242

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