LBNF Internal Cryogenics

Background: LBNF (http:/lbnf-dune.fnal.gov/) will provide the infrastructure necessary to support the massive neutrino detectors located deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will employ four (4) such detectors, housed in cryostats requiring almost 70,000 tons of liquid argon (LAr), about 17,500 tons for each cryostat. DUNE (http://www.dunescience.org/) is expected to achieve transformative discoveries, making definitive determinations of neutrino properties, examining the dynamics of supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and probing the possibility of proton decay.

Scope of RFP 357777-JD: The Internal Cryogenics serves to transfer liquid and gaseous argon (LAr and GAr, respectively) inside the cryostats for the purposes of purging them of their native atmospheres, cooling them down, filling them with LAr, and recirculating that LAr from dedicated purification equipment outside the scope of this supply. In addition, they serve to transfer the boil-off GAr outside the cryostat for normal recondensation inside the argon condensers and vent in case of a pressure rise over the allowable limit.

The successful bidder shall engineer, manufacture, pack and deliver the Internal cryogenics piping systems for the first two of the LBNF cryostats to the project warehouse in the vicinity of the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD.

The project consists of thirty (30) vacuum insulated and uninsulated cryogenic transfer lines and their supports to the cryostat as defined in this technical specification, and the documents and drawings attached to it. For a full description please see the RFP and Statement of Work.