Machine Protection System for the KOMAC 100-MeV Proton Linac

A Machine Protection System (MPS) is one of the important systems for the 100-MeV proton linear accelerator of the Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex (KOMAC). The MPS is required to protect the very sensitive and essential equipment during machine operation. The purpose of the MPS is to shut off the beam when the Radio-Frequency (RF) and ion source are unstable or a beam loss monitor detects high activation. The MPS includes a variety of sources, such as beam loss, RF and high voltage converter modulator faults, fast closing valves for vacuum window leaks at the beam lines and so on. The MPS consists of a hard-wired protection for fast interlocks and a soft-wired protection for slow interlock. The hardware-based MPS has been fabricated, and the requirement has been satisfied with the results within 3 μs. The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) control system has been also designed to monitor and control the MPS using a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). This paper describes the design and implementation of the MPS for the 100-MeV proton linear accelerator of the Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex (KOMAC).