Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source
Doc#: SOP-OPS-001	Procedure: Helium Supply Maintenance			Prepared by: ZB
Rev.: 3	Revision Date: 2/17/14	Date Effective:02/17/14	Date Expires: 02/17/15	Approved by: DJJ

Purpose
To replace an empty Helium crib with a fresh backup to provide a continuous Helium supply to CHESS areas.

Materials and Equipment Needed

• New High-Purity Helium 12-pack
• Pallet Jack
• 1-1/8” Wrench
• Broom
• Leak Checking Liquid
• Scrap Paper
• Marker
• Scotch Tape

Safety

• Hazards – Pressurized gas.
• Safety Equipment Required: none

Procedure

• Acknowledge alarm at ops.
• Walk to He Supply station in L0E and verify that the MAIN tank capacity is low with the in-line Pressure gauge on the wall panel.
• Determine which He crib is on Main (A/B). If the selector handle in the center of the wall panel is horizontal, A is on MAIN and B is on BACKUP. If the handle is vertical, B is on MAIN and A is on BACKUP. (Fig. 1)
• Close all twelve valves on the cylinders in the crib.
• Close the main output valve located in the top-center of the MAIN crib. (Fig. 2)
• Close the MAIN LINE VALVE located above the wall panel. (Fig. 3)
• Close the intermediate valve on the wall-panel from the MAIN crib. (Fig. 4)
• Loosen and remove the nipple from the crib’s main valve and hang the hose on the holder marked CGA-580 HOLDER next to the MAIN LINE VALVE using the 1-1/8” wrench.
• Move the empty crib away from the supply station to a temporary location using the pallet jack,.
• Sweep the area where crib was located.
• Move the spare crib (right-most looking at the supply station) into the empty bay with the main valve aligned with the wall panel using the pallet jack.
• Mark that the He crib is empty on the paper, with operator initials and date using the marker and scrap paper.
  • Tape the sign to the empty crib.
• Move the empty crib into the bay where the spare previously sat with the EMPTY sign facing outwards.
• Remove shrink-wrap from the new crib’s main valve.
• Remove the CGA-580 nipple and hose from the wall holder and connect the hose to the new He crib’s main valve.
• Tighten the nut using the 1-1/8” wrench.
• Open all twelve (12) valves on the Helium cylinders.
• Open the main valve of the Helium crib SLOWLY.
• Open the intermediate valve between the wall panel and the crib.
• SLOWLY open the Main Purge Vent dial and bleed the line for 30 seconds. (Fig. 3)
• Close the Main Purge Vent.
• Open the MAIN LINE VALVE.
• Switch the new tank to BACKUP:
  • Turn the handle on the wall-panel 90 degrees such that the pointed side of the handle is pointing towards the appropriate MAIN/BACKUP label.
• Leak-check the new crib’s main valve:
  • Spray Leak Checking Liquid between the nut and the valve.
    • If the liquid bubbles out of the threading there is a leak, and the valve needs to be tightened more.
    • If there are no bubbles, the seal is good.
• Reset the Gas Monitor in Ops.
• Make a Web-board note; noting the time and date of the alarm and which letter crib is on MAIN and which is on BACKUP.
• Order new Helium 12 pack. Ref SOP-OPS-013

Figures

Fig. 1 - (A on MAIN, B on BACKUP; A-line closed)

Fig. 2 - He Crib Main Valve and CGA-580 Nipple

Fig. 3 – Line Valve, Vent and Nipple Holder

Line Valve is Closed

Fig. 4 – Intermediate Vavle (closed).

References

• CHESS SOP-OPS-013, “Purchasing a helium crib”

Revision History
Rev. 0 – Initial Document (9/24/10)
Rev. 1 – Update to newer standards. Misc. edits. (06/15/11)
Rev. 2 – Moved step 7 to step 4. Swapped steps 6 and 7. Added step 10. Reworded steps 11, 12. (06/21/11)
Rev. 3 - Added reference for SOP-OPS-013. Updated header to new format (KM 2/17/14)