Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory provides the most intense pulsed neutron beams for scientific research and industrial development of any facility on the planet. For more than fifteen years, it has relied on IDI for design support; over the last five year that’s included design support related to the periodic upgrades of its existing sensible chilled water system, with one such upgrade completed just last month.

This cooling water loop is routed throughout the SNS facility and is needed to cool neutron beam line components and associated equipment. The upgrades have consisted of replacing existing pipe with larger diameter or adding chiller and filter equipment to the cooling loop. Piping components required for the upgrades have included tube and tube fittings, hoses, valves, instruments, and pipe support structures. A number of the projects have covered a large area, utilizing hundreds of individual piping components of different sizes and materials.