Oxford Instruments NanoScience MercuryiPS User manual

Operator's Manual
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments
NanoScience
Operator’s Manual
Oxford Instruments
NanoScience
Issue
1
4
/ Mar 2016 /
Original Instructions
MercuryiPS
Power Supply for Superconducting Magnets
Issue 14 /
Mar
NanoScience
. All rights reserved.
Oxford Instruments
NanoScience
Original Instructions
Power Supply for Superconducting Magnets
Mar
2016
/ UMC0071
Power Supply for Superconducting Magnets

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
Contents
PREFACE.................................................................................................................................. 1
Use of this manual ................................................................................................................................. 1
Customer support ................................................................................................................................... 4
Health and safety information ................................................................................................................ 5
Disclaimers ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................ 6
Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Certification compliance statements ...................................................................................................... 8
About Oxford Instruments ...................................................................................................................... 9
1 HEALTH AND SAFETY ..................................................................................................... 10
1.1 Warnings ...................................................................................................................... 10
1.1.1 Protective and functional ground .......................................................................................... 10
1.1.2 High voltage hazard .............................................................................................................. 11
1.1.3 Maintenance and adjustment ................................................................................................ 11
1.1.4 Restrictions on use ............................................................................................................... 11
1.2 Cautions ....................................................................................................................... 12
1.2.1 Electrostatic caution .............................................................................................................. 12
1.2.2 Cooling caution ..................................................................................................................... 12
1.2.3 Acoustic noise caution .......................................................................................................... 13
1.3 Solid waste ................................................................................................................... 13
2 MERCURY IPS BASICS .................................................................................................... 14
2.1 MercuryiPS front and rear panels ................................................................................. 15
2.2 Electrical power supply ................................................................................................. 16
2.3 Temperature sensor circuits ......................................................................................... 17
2.4 Remote interfaces ........................................................................................................ 18
2.6 Main components ......................................................................................................... 19
2.6.1 Chassis ................................................................................................................................. 20
2.6.2 Power Supply ........................................................................................................................ 20
2.6.3 User interface ........................................................................................................................ 20

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
2.6.4 Motherboard .......................................................................................................................... 21
2.6.5 Magnet control board ............................................................................................................ 23
2.6.6 Filter board ............................................................................................................................ 23
2.6.7 Run-down resistors ............................................................................................................... 23
2.7 Alarms and interlocks ................................................................................................... 24
3 GETTING STARTED ......................................................................................................... 25
3.1 Checking the electrical supply ...................................................................................... 25
3.2 Mounting the equipment ............................................................................................... 25
3.2.1 Background magnetic field .................................................................................................... 26
3.3 Connecting electrical power.......................................................................................... 26
3.4 Powering up the MercuryiPS for the first time ............................................................... 27
3.5 The MercuryiPS touch screen ...................................................................................... 27
3.5.1 The magnet home page ........................................................................................................ 28
3.5.2 Custom home pages ............................................................................................................. 30
3.5.3 Channel summary widget ..................................................................................................... 30
3.5.4 Drop-down menus ................................................................................................................. 30
3.5.5 Scrolling ................................................................................................................................ 31
3.5.6 Soft keypads ......................................................................................................................... 31
3.5.7 Using arrows to adjust integer values ................................................................................... 34
3.5.8 Button labels ......................................................................................................................... 34
3.5.9 Common touch screen features ............................................................................................ 34
3.5.10 Setting the date and time ...................................................................................................... 35
3.6 Plotting signals on the MercuryiPS touch screen .......................................................... 36
3.6.1 Plot Configuration ................................................................................................................. 36
3.6.2 Scaling a plot......................................................................................................................... 38
4 HOW TO CONFIGURE THE IPS FOR YOUR MAGNET ................................................... 40
4.1 Quench ........................................................................................................................ 41
4.2 Slaves Detected ........................................................................................................... 42
4.3 Magnet Type ................................................................................................................ 43
4.4 The Configuration Table (Figure 9) ............................................................................... 44
4.4.1 Config .................................................................................................................................... 44

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
4.4.2 Limit(A) .................................................................................................................................. 47
4.4.3 Limit(V) .................................................................................................................................. 47
4.4.4 I to H (A/T) ............................................................................................................................. 48
4.4.5 Ind (H) ................................................................................................................................... 48
4.4.6 Trans (ms) ............................................................................................................................. 48
4.4.7 Switch .................................................................................................................................... 48
4.4.8 Sw Cur (mA).......................................................................................................................... 48
4.4.9 Mode ..................................................................................................................................... 49
4.4.10 Safety .................................................................................................................................... 49
4.4.11 Limit (K) ................................................................................................................................. 50
4.4.12 Limit (L) ................................................................................................................................. 50
4.4.13 Sw Intel ................................................................................................................................. 50
4.4.14 Htr Res () ............................................................................................................................ 51
4.4.15 Sw Res () ............................................................................................................................ 51
4.4.16 Lead () ................................................................................................................................ 51
4.4.17 SW on (ms) ........................................................................................................................... 52
4.4.18 SW off (ms) ........................................................................................................................... 52
4.4.19 Catch ..................................................................................................................................... 52
4.4.20 Epsilon (A)............................................................................................................................. 52
5 OPERATING THE MAGNET ............................................................................................. 53
5.1 Rate Limits ................................................................................................................... 54
5.2 Fast Rates / Slow Rates ............................................................................................... 57
5.3 Editing the Rate Limits table ......................................................................................... 57
5.4 Quench ........................................................................................................................ 57
5.5 Vector Rotate mode ..................................................................................................... 58
6 TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT ................................................................................... 60
6.1 Sensor connections ...................................................................................................... 60
6.1.1 Connecting thermocouples ................................................................................................... 61
6.2 Configuring a temperature sensor ................................................................................ 61
6.2.1 Configuring the sensor details .............................................................................................. 62
6.2.2 To clear a widget configuration ............................................................................................. 64
6.4 Using a generic calibration-file ...................................................................................... 65

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
6.4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................................... 65
6.4.2 Adjusting a generic calibration file ........................................................................................ 65
6.5 Types of temperature sensor ........................................................................................ 67
6.5.1 Thermocouples ..................................................................................................................... 67
6.5.2 Metallic resistance thermometers (positive temperature coefficient) .................................... 67
6.5.3 Semiconductor resistance thermometers (negative temperature coefficient) ...................... 67
6.5.4 Semiconductor diodes .......................................................................................................... 68
6.5.5 Excitation current .................................................................................................................. 68
6.5.6 Calibration for different sensors ............................................................................................ 69
6.5.7 Available generic calibration files .......................................................................................... 70
6.6 More about thermocouples ........................................................................................... 71
6.6.1 Thermocouple principles ....................................................................................................... 71
6.6.2 Configuring for thermocouples .............................................................................................. 71
6.6.3 Reference junction compensation ........................................................................................ 73
6.6.4 External reference junctions ................................................................................................. 73
7 CRYOGEN LEVEL-METER ............................................................................................... 75
7.1 Principles of operation .................................................................................................. 75
7.1.1 Operation of the board with a helium-level probe ................................................................. 75
7.1.2 Operation of the board with a nitrogen-level probe............................................................... 76
7.1.3 Why different methods are used for the two liquids .............................................................. 76
7.2 Installing the level-meter board ..................................................................................... 76
7.2.1 Removing the top cover ........................................................................................................ 76
7.2.2 Fitting the board .................................................................................................................... 77
7.2.3 Basic check of board operation............................................................................................. 79
7.3 Connecting the level probe ........................................................................................... 79
7.4 Configuring MercuryiPS for helium level meter ............................................................. 79
7.5 Configuring MercuryiPS for nitrogen level meter ........................................................... 81
8 MANAGING YOUR MERCURY ......................................................................................... 84
8.1 General ........................................................................................................................ 84
8.2 Display ......................................................................................................................... 86
8.3 Devices ........................................................................................................................ 88

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
8.4 Clock ............................................................................................................................ 89
8.5 File transfer .................................................................................................................. 90
8.6 Updates ........................................................................................................................ 91
8.7 Access Level ................................................................................................................ 93
8.8 Factory ......................................................................................................................... 95
8.9 Save File pages ............................................................................................................ 96
8.10 Load File pages ........................................................................................................ 97
9 REMOTE OPERATION ...................................................................................................... 98
9.1 Remote operation using RS232 or ISOBUS ................................................................. 98
9.1.1 Configuring RS232 and ISOBus ........................................................................................... 98
9.1.2 Serial RS232 cabling requirements .................................................................................... 100
9.2 Remote operation using GPIB .....................................................................................101
9.2.1 Configuring GPIB ................................................................................................................ 101
9.2.2 GPIB Cabling requirements ................................................................................................ 102
9.3 Remote operation using Ethernet ................................................................................102
9.3.1 Configuring Ethernet ........................................................................................................... 102
9.3.2 Ethernet cabling requirements ............................................................................................ 104
9.4 Remote operation using USB ......................................................................................104
9.4.1 Configuring USB ................................................................................................................. 104
9.4.2 USB Cabling requirements ................................................................................................. 104
9.4.3 USB drivers ......................................................................................................................... 104
9.5 Switching MercuryiPS control between local and remote .............................................105
9.6 Testing remote connections.........................................................................................105
9.7 Programming examples ...............................................................................................105
10 COMMAND REFERENCE GUIDE ..............................................................................107
10.1 Nomenclature used in this section ...........................................................................107
10.2 SCPI and legacy command sets ..............................................................................107
10.3 SCPI commands......................................................................................................107

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
10.3.1 SCPI protocols .................................................................................................................... 108
10.3.2 Reading the instrument identity .......................................................................................... 108
10.3.3 Basic SCPI command structure .......................................................................................... 109
10.3.4 Verbs ................................................................................................................................... 109
10.3.5 Nouns .................................................................................................................................. 110
10.3.6 Invalid responses ................................................................................................................ 120
10.4 Legacy commands ..................................................................................................120
10.4.1 Legacy command protocols ................................................................................................ 120
10.4.2 Legacy monitor commands ................................................................................................. 120
10.4.3 Legacy control commands .................................................................................................. 123
10.4.4 Legacy system commands ................................................................................................. 124
11 TEMPERATURE SENSOR DAUGHTER BOARD ......................................................125
11.1 Overview of the temperature sensor board ..............................................................125
11.2 Installing a temperature sensor board ......................................................................125
11.2.1 Fitting the board .................................................................................................................. 125
11.2.2 Basic check of board operation........................................................................................... 126
11.3 Circuit description of the temperature sensor board .................................................126
11.3.1 Voltage measurement mode ............................................................................................... 126
11.3.2 Resistance measurement in constant current mode .......................................................... 128
11.3.3 Resistance measurement in constant voltage mode .......................................................... 129
11.3.4 Calibrating the temperature measurement circuit ............................................................... 130
12 AUXILIARY I/O DAUGHTER BOARD ........................................................................132
12.1 Description of the auxiliary I/O board .......................................................................132
12.1.1 Auxiliary I/O board functions ............................................................................................... 132
12.1.2 Gas-flow control using a motorised needle-valve ............................................................... 133
12.2 Installing an auxiliary I/O board ................................................................................133
12.2.1 Fitting the board .................................................................................................................. 133
12.2.2 Basic check of board operation........................................................................................... 133
12.2.3 Connecting to the auxiliary I/O board ................................................................................. 134
12.2.4 Configuring an input on the auxiliary I/O board .................................................................. 134
12.2.5 Configuring an output on the auxiliary I/O board ................................................................ 135
13 PRESSURE BOARD...................................................................................................137

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
13.1 Description of the pressure board ............................................................................137
13.1.1 Description of the pressure board circuit ............................................................................ 137
13.2 Installing a pressure board ......................................................................................140
13.2.1 Fitting the board .................................................................................................................. 140
13.2.2 Basic check of board operation........................................................................................... 140
13.2.3 Connecting to the pressure board ...................................................................................... 140
13.2.4 Configuring the pressure board .......................................................................................... 142
13.2.5 Configuring the pressure sensor details ............................................................................. 142
14 GPIB DAUGHTER BOARD ........................................................................................145
14.1 Description of the GPIB daughter board ..................................................................145
14.2 Installing a GPIB board ............................................................................................145
14.2.1 Fitting the board .................................................................................................................. 145
14.2.2 Basic check of board operation........................................................................................... 145
14.3 Connecting to the GPIB board .................................................................................146
15 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ..................................................................................147
15.1 Cleaning the touch-screen .......................................................................................147
15.2 Calibrating the temperature sensor circuits ..............................................................147
15.3 Lubricating the fan ...................................................................................................147
15.4 Lithium-ion coin cell replacement .............................................................................148
16 ALARMS, INTERLOCKS AND TROUBLESHOOTING ..............................................149
16.1 Alarms and interlocks ..............................................................................................149
16.1.1 Alarm Logs and Alarms History pages ............................................................................... 149
16.2 Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................152
16.2.1 Internal faults....................................................................................................................... 152
16.2.2 External faults ..................................................................................................................... 152
16.3 Directory of alarms ..................................................................................................153
17 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................156
17.1 Physical specification ..............................................................................................156

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved.
17.2 Electrical power supply ............................................................................................156
17.3 Magnet outputs ........................................................................................................156
17.4 Sensor inputs ..........................................................................................................157
17.5 PC interfaces ...........................................................................................................158
17.6 Electrical isolation ....................................................................................................158
17.7 Environmental specifications ...................................................................................158
17.8 Level meter board ....................................................................................................159
17.9 Pressure board ........................................................................................................159
18 CUSTOMER SUPPORT ..............................................................................................160

Operator's Manual Issue 14 / Mar 2016
/ UMC0071
MercuryiPS
©2016 Oxford Instruments NanoScience. All rights reserved. Page 1
PREFACE
Welcome to the Operator’s Handbook for the Oxford Instruments NanoScience MercuryiPS
cryogenic environment controller. The MercuryiPS is a high performance laboratory magnet
power supply, with a number of features specifically intended for use in cryogenic applications
as required for superconducting magnets.
Use of this manual
This Operator’s Handbook provides all the information necessary for the safe and proper
installation, operation and servicing of the MercuryiPS magnet power supply.
Chapters 1 to 5 provide essential information that must be read and understood before
operating the MercuryiPS for the first time.
Intended users
Users of the MercuryiPS must have received adequate training on its safe and effective use
before attempting to work with the equipment. Please contact Oxford Instruments NanoScience
for information on training requirements and training courses that are available.
Training requirements vary from country to country. Users must ensure that training is given in
accordance with all applicable local laws and regulations.
If any user of the equipment has not been directly trained by Oxford Instruments NanoScience,
ensure that they understand the safety issues associated with the equipment, and that they
consult relevant personnel for guidance when operating the equipment.
Statement of intended use of the MercuryiPS
The MercuryiPS has been designed for superconducting magnet control. The equipment has
been designed to operate within the process parameter limits that are outlined in this manual.
The MercuryiPS is intended to be installed, used and operated only for the purpose for which
the MercuryiPS was designed, and only in accordance with the instructions given in this
manual and other accompanying documents. Nothing stated in this manual reduces the
responsibilities of users to exercise sound judgement and best practice.
It is the user's responsibility to ensure the system is operated in a safe manner. Consideration
must be made for all aspects of the system's life-cycle including, handling, installation, normal