Control & PSS

SESAME control systems utilize Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) toolkit. EPICS is a control system middleware or framework that allows distributed parts of the different subsystems to communicate with each other in a standardized way for the purposes of data acquisition and control of equipment.

EPICS is installed on Control Servers, each of these servers is dedicated for a specific subsystem and contains one or more IOCs (input/output controller) where each IOC controls specific device(s). OPIs (operator interface) communicate with the IOCs to display the control system in one dedicated environment.

Main sub-systems of the control system: 

1. Timing System: The task of the SESAME timing system is to synchronize the operation of the whole accelerator complex and its subsystems. These synchronized events are distributed to Injector systems, Pulsed elements, Energy ramping in booster & storage ring and Diagnostics devices. 
2. Personnel Safety System (PSS): PSS aims to protect the personnel from radiation hazards coming from accelerator and beamlines. PSS is an independent access control and interlock system which interlocks the accelerator operation and controls access to shielded enclosure to protect personnel from being exposed to high level of radiation forbidden by the law. This system has been implemented through a programmable logic controller (PLC), which is a very secure and fail-safe type of computer.
3. Machine protection system (MPS): MPS is a system that is designed to protect the hardware components of the accelerator from any hazard or fault that could result from excessive heat, low flow of cooling water, and high gas pressure in the vacuum vessels for instance in case of failures. This system has been implemented through a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Other systems integrated with control system:

1. Diagnostics
2. Power supplies. 
3. Radio Frequency. 
4. Vacuum system. 
5. Insertion devices.