ICALEPCS2013 - List of Authors (Bartlett, D.)

Paper

Title

Page

The Interaction between Safety Interlock and Motion Control Systems on the Dingo Radiography Instrument at the OPAL Research Reactor

1141

P.N. Barron, D. Bartlett
ANSTO, Menai, Australia

A neutron radiography/tomography instrument (Dingo) has recently been commissioned at the Bragg Institute, ANSTO. It utilizes thermal beam HB2 of the OPAL research reactor with flux up to 4.75 x 10⁷ neutrons cm^-2 s⁻¹ at the sample. One component of the instrument is a 2.5 tonne selector wheel filled with a wax/steel shielding mixture which requires complex interaction between the safety interlock and motion control systems. It provides six apertures which are equipped with various neutron beam optics plus a solid ‘shutter’ section to block the beam. A standardized Galil based motion system precisely controls the movement of the wheel while a Pilz safety PLC specifies the desired position and handles other safety aspects of the instrument. A shielded absolute SSI encoder is employed to give high accuracy feedback on the position in conjunction with a number or limit switches. This paper details the challenges of creating a motion system with inherent safety, verifying the wheel meets specifications and the considerations in selecting components to withstand high radiation environments.

Poster THPPC025 [1.929 MB]

Paper	Title	Page
THPPC025	The Interaction between Safety Interlock and Motion Control Systems on the Dingo Radiography Instrument at the OPAL Research Reactor	1141
	P.N. Barron, D. Bartlett ANSTO, Menai, Australia
	A neutron radiography/tomography instrument (Dingo) has recently been commissioned at the Bragg Institute, ANSTO. It utilizes thermal beam HB2 of the OPAL research reactor with flux up to 4.75 x 10⁷ neutrons cm^-2 s⁻¹ at the sample. One component of the instrument is a 2.5 tonne selector wheel filled with a wax/steel shielding mixture which requires complex interaction between the safety interlock and motion control systems. It provides six apertures which are equipped with various neutron beam optics plus a solid ‘shutter’ section to block the beam. A standardized Galil based motion system precisely controls the movement of the wheel while a Pilz safety PLC specifies the desired position and handles other safety aspects of the instrument. A shielded absolute SSI encoder is employed to give high accuracy feedback on the position in conjunction with a number or limit switches. This paper details the challenges of creating a motion system with inherent safety, verifying the wheel meets specifications and the considerations in selecting components to withstand high radiation environments.
	Poster THPPC025 [1.929 MB]