Control Electronics

MercuryiTC & iPS Intelligent control of cryogenic and magnetic environments

MercuryiTC Intelligent temperature controller

Accurate measurements

Measures and controls temperatures to below 250 mKwith a precision of 0.1 mK. (24 bit A to D resolution)
Heater output up to 80 W per channel
Configurable constant voltage or constant current excitation
Supports all standard cryogenic sensors (ruthenium oxide, cernox, silicon diodes, platinum, thermocouple and RhFe)
Base system includes a single temperature sensor input and 80W heater output for precise temperature PID control

The MercuryiTC is a versatile cryogenic environment controller. In its basic form it includes a single channel high-resolution (24 bit) temperature measurement circuit which supports all the standard cryogenic sensors (ruthenium oxide, cernox, silicon diodes, platinum, thermocouple and RhFe). With the constant voltage mode it enables reliable, accurate temperature measurement using negative temperature sensors (NTC) down to below 250 mK. The base unit enables PID loop configuration control of a single heater output up to 80W (40 V, 2 A).

The base unit incorporates a versatile touch screen display with signal widgets (18 widgets) that are user configurable to display any of the internal system signals. The unit is fully controllable by remote command via TCP/IP, USB, RS232 or optional GPIB. Any of the available system signals are also available by remote command.

The base unit is expandable with plug-and-play cards. There are 9 expansion slots, 8 multi-use and 1 dedicated for GPIB. The expansion slots allow the addition of 8 extra temperature sensor cards, or 3 temperature sensor cards coupled with 3 additional 80W heater cards to form a total of 4 independent PID loops. Or pressure sensors cards can be added which can be used to control cryogen flow via Auxiliary (Gas Control) cards.

Please note: The temperature sensor – heater PID loop algorithm also includes a feature to balance a cooling cryogen flow without the need of a pressure card. The MercuryiTC will also support the Cryogen level meter card for monitoring Helium and Nitrogen cryogen levels

Measures and controls temperatures to below 250 mK with a precision of 0.1 mK (24 bit A to D resolution)
Heater output up to 80 W per channel
Software switchable between true constant voltage source or current source for sensor excitation, preventing self-heating and allowing for high quality measurements at the lowest temperature
Supports all standard cryogenic sensors (ruthenium oxide, cernox, silicon diodes, platinum, thermocouple and RhFe)
Base system includes a single temperature sensor input and 80W heater output for precise temperature PID control
Customisation is possible through the addition of plug and play expansion cards. The controller features 9 expansion slots (8 multi-function slots and a dedicated GPIB slot) which can be used to extend its capability. Expansion cards include additional temperature sensor inputs and heater outputs, pressure transducer inputs, stepper motor drive allowing gas flow regulation for efficient use of liquid helium in flow cryostats and cryogen level metering of both helium and nitrogen
System control
The intuitive touch screen user interface facilitates easy monitoring, control and configuration of your experimental system.
Easy pc connection to your Mercury instrument via multiple remote ports
Interfaces: Ethernet, Serial, USB or optional GPIB
Easy integration within your data acquisition programs for monitoring and remote control of your cryogenic and superconducting magnet system
The MercuryiTC has also a number of pre-configured control modes e.g., Heliox control, Lambda Fridge control, Rotator control, etc.
Rear panel connections

Thermometry

Number of inputs: 1 included as standard, up to 8 extra
A/D Resolution: 24-bit
Maximum reading rate: Up to 4 readings per sec.
Isolation: All sensors independently isolated
Supported sensor types: All standard types of cryogenic RTD’s plus diodes and thermocouples

Heater

Number of outputs: 1 incl. as standard, up to 3 extra
DAC Resolution: 16-bit
Max heater power: 80 W
Max current: 2 A
Max voltage: 40 V
Heater load range: 20 Ohms to 120 Ohms
Heater noise (0 - 2 MHz): < 2 mV

Configuration options

Sensor input: Up to 9
Heater output: Up to 4
N2 / He level meter: Up to 2
Auxiliary control (stepper motor): Up to 4
GPIB: 1

Control

Number of loops: 1 incl. as standard, up to 3 extra
PID control: Fixed or zonal
Set point: Programmable
Proportional gain: 0 to 200 K (resolution 0.1)
Integral time: 0 to 200 mins (resolution 0.001)
Derivative rate: 0 to 300 mins (resolution 0.001)

Pressure Reading

Number of inputs: Up to 4
A/D Resolution: 24-bit
Maximum reading rate: Up to 4 readings per sec.
Absolute accuracy: ±0.1% full scale in each range
Voltage Ranges: 10V, 1.6V, 0.8V, 0.4V, 0.2V, 0-0.1V (Auto-ranging)
Current Ranges: 4-20mA (20mA, 16mA, 8mA, 4mA Auto-ranging)
Sensor Excitation Voltage: 0 V(off) , 10V±5% or 15V±5%
Sensor Excitation Current: 0 - 20 mA
Supported sensor types: Voltage, Current and Ratiometric

Cryogen Level Reading

Number of cards: Up to 2
Each card supports a Helium Level input and a Nitrogen Level input
Helium Level specifications
- Excitation current settings: 20 mA to 280 mA in 20 mA steps
- Excitation current accuracy: ±5%
- Excitation voltage: 40 V maximum
- Probe resistance: 0 to 300 ohms
- Probe resistance accuracy: ±0.2%
- Probe resistance stability: ±0.1%
- A/D Resolution: 24-bit
- Reading rate: 1 sample every 10s or 1 sample every 30 minutes.
- Isolation: All sensors independently isolated
Nitrogen Level input
- Probe source voltage: 12 VDC
- Probe source oscillator frequency range: 5 kHz to 90 kHz
- Probe sensing resolution (level): 0.1%
- Probe sensing accuracy (level): 0.5%

Functions

Control the temperature of a chamber (e.g. VTI) via PID control of a heater and stepper motor control of cooling gas flow
Control the pressure of a chamber (e.g. VTI) via stepper motor control of cooling gas flow
Control of a Heliox insert
Control a Lambda fridge
Drive 4 independent PID loops
Drive a sample rotator
Read up to 9 temperatures
Read up to 8 pressures
Read cryogen levels
Drive up to 4 heaters (80W each
Drive up to 2 stepper motors

MercuryiPS Intelligent magnet power supply

Stable measurements

Bi-polar, four quadrant magnet power supply
± 60 A and ± 10 V output
Highly accurate and stable, better than 2.8 mA current stability at 120 A
Low noise
iSense intelligent magnet monitoring and quench protection. Auto-rundown allowing the MercuryiPS to be programmed to run magnet down safely in event of over temperature or low cryogen levels
Supports vector rotate magnets

The MercuryiPS is an intelligent fully configurable magnet power supply system. It enables automated control of a wide range of superconducting magnets, including NMR, high field, beamline and Vector Rotate magnet systems. MercuryiPS is a bi-polar, high-stability, four quadrant power supply with incorporated quench protection. It includes temperature control of the main high-power sense resistor to prevent output current drift.

The MercuryiPS is fully controllable by remote command via TCP/IP, USB, RS232 or optional GPIB.

MercuryiPS has an on board temperature sensing for diagnostic monitoring of magnet temperature. It also includes an option for LHe/LN2 level meter expansion card, additional temperature sensing cards, and an auxiliary port expansion card.

Modular design: Based on ±60 A modules with ±10 V compliance and can be configured in parallel, series and matrix modes from the basic ±60 A with ±10 V output up to ±600 A with ±10 V or ±300 A with ±20 V output configurations.

Versatile: Communications support a full range of interface options (Ethernet, USB, RS232, and optional GPIB) with downloadable Mercury function library for LabVIEW.

Complete cryogenic system automation: Quench protection and auto-rundown where the MercuryiPS can be programmed to run magnet down safely in event of magnet temperature rise, low cryogen levels or triggered by an external TTL signal.

The MercuryiPS can also be configured to control the system Lambda fridge.

Configurable module (typical specifications)

Output current: ± 60 A nominal (± 62.5 A maximum) via rear panel busbar per
module
Output voltage: ± 10 V
Output polarity: Bi-polar
Current setting resolution: 0.15 mA
Current resolution: 0.1 mA
Current stability: ± 2 mA
Max sweep rate: 1200 A/min
Resolution: 0.01 A/min
Load inductance: Up to 1000H
Switch heater output: 0 to 120 mA into 0 – 100 ohms.
12 V compliance
Max steady state power: 600 W