Cornell University Energy Recovery Linear Accelerator Upgrade
Craig Covil, Arup
This video and presentation provides an overview of the challenges and achievements on Cornell University's Energy Recovery LINAC ERL upgrade project,
In 2010, Cornell University applied for funding from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to upgrade its ageing synchrotron. The project involves a new laboratory building and extension of the existing ERL accelerator tunnel to two kilometers, giving the university a best-in-class research facility to support X-ray research. By addressing a number of technical challenges including space constraints, minute tolerances, complex structural design, and overall project economics, the finished facility will house a beam that is 100 more powerful than existing facilities of this type, making it possible to produce images of atom-sized particles for the first time.
The university also needed to ensure that different kinds of experiments could be carried out in the new space and plan for possible future expansion of the X-ray beam lines, so the team was required to understand the range of the research being undertaken in order to project future space requirements. Working closely with the scientists and key researchers as well as representatives from the university and the surrounding area, optimized designs were prepared for smooth operation and coordination of work with other campus projects.
The results included a number of innovative strategies for maximizing the ERL's benefits for the school as a whole, including potential use of the waste energy generated in cooling the beam lines to heat other buildings.
The presentation concludes by providing insight into the complexities involved in design of a facility that will have profound implications across many scientific and technical disciplines.
Biography:
Craig Covil is a principal with Arup based in New York. He is a civil engineer with more than 25 years of experience on major civil/infrastructure and building projects, specifically in civil engineering, foundations, underground structures, and performance analysis.
Mr. Covil's expertise lies in the design and construction of complex infrastructure for government, local authorities, contractors, industry, and institutional clients. He provides engineering advice and project management for a range of projects, including the Cornell University ERL Upgrade where he acted as project director for integration of the tunnel infrastructure, buildings, laboratory design, and site civil engineering designs. This new facility and its advanced synchrotron radiation X-Ray source—The Energy Recovery LINAC ERL—will house the first ever ERL X-Ray, and one of the most advanced nano-technology laboratories.