An effective and reliable solution for forward-type detectors cooling around the LHC accelerator at CERN

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN require a wide variety of cooling systems to ensure the stable operation of detectors and associated electronics. While the large-scale systems for superconducting magnets and inner detectors of experiments such as ATLAS and CMS are already well known, and the cooling power requirements are in the order of many tens of kW, and cooling systems in the range of hundreds of kW are now being prepared. Forward detectors present unique challenges due to their relatively low cooling capacity requirements and their significant distance from the proton–proton interaction point. This paper focuses on the design and implementation of efficient cooling solutions for two forward detectors: AFP and PPS2. Specifically, we explore systems based on the vortex-tube principle, which utilize air as the cooling medium. These systems demand highly compact and effective heat exchangers. We report on the development of advanced exchangers incorporating metal foam inserts and recent progress in the use of 3D-printed metallic heat exchangers. These exchangers have demonstrated comparable or improved thermal performance while offering greater design flexibility, representing a promising approach for future applications in forward detector cooling.