Design of modified safety interlock system for pelletron accelerator

The BARC-TIFR Pelletron Accelerator Facility has been operational for last twenty four years progressively with increased efficiency, delivering energetic light and heavy ions at medium energy. The process of beam acceleration makes the accelerator tower and beam hall radiation prone areas. A modified Interlock system for Pelletron Accelerator has been designed and developed to ensure radiation safety of the personnel working in the accelerator premises. Radiation levels from monitors, status of search and secure switches and entry doors of the accelerator tower, are inputs to the interlock system. The system triggers if radiation level exceeds the set value or status of any search and secure switches and entry doors across the tower are changed, thus stopping the beam at ion source level. This system also incorporates new features like-audio visual alarm pertaining to each location. (author)