CryoTiger

As a consequence of a failure of the hoses of the StanCam Cryotiger it lost gas and stopped cooling. The location of the leaks were found and as an emergency solution the hoses from FIES were used for StanCam. While this was done the self sealing valves of one of the hoses failed and more gas was lost. The damaged hoses were repaired on the island but one of the repairs still had a small leak, this second leak was also repaired. With the assistance of the Liverpool Telescope we were able to refill both the StanCam and FIES cooling systems but the operating temperature of the FIES system is now only -160C, where -200C is expected. This is believed to be due to contamination of the cold-head and we are planning to de-contaminate the system.

Replacement gas and a new set of hoses were purchased but took a very long time to arrive.



Thomas Augusteijn 2008-01-11