Design and implementation of water-cooled tuning control system for BNCT

Abstract

BackgroundThe radio frequency quadrupole field (RFQ) acceleration cavity in the boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) experimental device has a characteristic of frequency-selectivity. Water cooling tuning is the process of adjusting the natural resonant frequency of RFQ acceleration cavity to make it consistent with the working frequency of high-frequency power. The natural resonance frequency of the RFQ acceleration cavity is sensitive to the temperature of deionized water in the circulating cooling water system of constant flow process.PurposeThis study aims to design and implement water-cooled tuning system to keep thermostat control within ±0.1 °C of the target value.MethodsBased on the constant flow process circulating cooling water system, a water-cooled tuning control system was developed by using key equipments such as digital high-precision temperature sensors and high-precision temperature control actuators. A constant-temperature and constant flow cooling water circuit for the RFQ acceleration cavity wall and wing was degined to realize the stability and adjustability of the natural resonance frequency of the RFQ acceleration cavity, and finally achieved the RFQ resonance.Results & ConclusionsThe BNCT water-cooled tuning control system of this study is a complete system with functionalities of automatic control, process visualization, data acquisition, historical data storage and remote monitoring. It has been put into formal operation after implementation and commissioning.

Keywords

• boron neutron capture therapy (bnct) experimental device
• radio frequency quadrupole field (rfq) acceleration cavity
• water-cooled tuning control system