Speaker
Description
Resistive Plate Chambers require a continuous supply of suitable operating gas to ensure stable and reliable detector performance. However, the use and disposal of RPC gases represent an important environmental and operational challenge, particularly in laboratories and experimental systems where long-term detector operation is required. In this context, the development of gas regeneration and reuse systems is an applied solution with strong potential to reduce gas consumption, operational costs, and environmental impact.
This work presents the development of a closed-loop gas regeneration system for RPC detectors at the Neusa Amato RPC Laboratory of CBPF. The system is designed to collect the gas leaving the RPC, temporarily store it in a dedicated gas bag, and automatically transfer it to a regeneration unit. After regeneration, the gas is returned to the reservoir and becomes available again for detector operation. This architecture avoids direct coupling between the RPC outlet and the regeneration machine, preventing unwanted pressure effects on the detector.
The system integrates pressure monitoring, flow switching, electrovalves, safety elements, and microcontroller-based automation to control the gas flow cycle. The control logic detects the state of the gas bag, manages the transfer of the used gas to the regeneration unit, and coordinates the return of the regenerated gas to the reservoir under controlled conditions.
The poster will present the concept, closed-loop architecture, main components, control strategy, and current development status of the system. This work contributes to the development of practical and sustainable infrastructure for RPC operation, providing a flexible platform for gas reuse and future long-term validation studies.