SIRIUS laboratory drone image

Brilliant as the brightest star in the firmament, SIRIUS opens a new window into the world of molecules

Modular 120 kW DC power supplies for SIRIUS Laboratory particle accelerator in Brazil, one of the brightest synchrotron light sources in the world

After a short period of planning, development and manufacturing, BENNING supplied four customized DC power supply systems to the Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory (LNLS – Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron) in the city of Campinas, west of Sao Paulo in June 2023, on behalf of the Brazilian Center for Energy and Materials Research (CNPEM – Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais).

Known as Project SIRIUS, the new Brazilian synchrotron light source is – according to the manufacturer’s own information*¹ – the largest and most complex scientific infrastructure project ever implemented in Brazil. The rectifier systems supplied by BENNING will ensure the power supply of the RF system, one of the most important subsystems of the particle accelerator.

Drone image of the SIRIUS accelerator

SIRIUS Laboratory

The SIRIUS Laboratory provides an open research platform available to the Brazilian and international scientific communities. It aims to contribute to solving major scientific and technological challenges, such as new medicines and treatments for diseases, new fertilizers, more resistant and adaptable plant species, renewable energy sources, and many other potential applications with profound economic and social impacts.

The SIRIUS main building has a floor area of 68,000 square meters and provides space for up to 620 researchers, staff or guests on four floors. The predominantly circular shape of the building and the building structures jutting out laterally from it result from the geometry of the particle accelerators and the long beamlines emerging tangentially from this circular path and ending in the research stations.

Synchrotron radiation occurs when electrically charged particles, e.g. in the ring of a particle accelerator, are deflected from their straight path and in the process emit energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Synchrotron light spans a broad spectrum, from the infrared range through visible light and ultraviolet radiation to X-rays. It is characterized by its intensity and strong brightness, i.e., its high concentration of radiation. These properties allow researchers to permeate materials and study their characteristics in detail at the molecular and atomic level. Therefore, synchrotron light is an ideal tool in materials research.

The new SIRIUS laboratory houses one of the most modern and, above all, brilliant synchrotron light sources in the world in this power range. It enables experiments in materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, environmental sciences and many other fields that were previously impossible in Brazil and, in some cases, worldwide.

The heart of this synchrotron light source is formed by electron accelerators in the injector system and in the storage ring in which, the particles circulate on stable paths for hours in a vacuum. Using controlled magnetic fields, the electrons, which are moving at approximately the speed of light, are deflected from their path. As a result of the centripetal acceleration that occurs, synchrotron light is emitted.

This concentrated radiation, which is tangential to the curve of the electrons, is used by the research stations located around the particle accelerator. This is where the synchrotron light beam paths end, the so-called “beamlines”, which individually prepare the light for transilluminating the samples to be examined. Due to this high speed, in-situ experiments can also be carried out at the molecular level and the processes of change that take place in the material in fractions of a second can be observed. SIRIUS will initially have 14 of these modern research stations in the first phase. A future expansion to 38 beamlines is already planned.

Inside the SIRIUS’ accelerator shield tunnel
Inside SIRIUS’ accelerator shield tunnel

TEBECHOP SE in the critical path

In the ultravacuum chamber of the storage ring, radio frequency (RF) systems replenish the energy lost by the electron beam, mainly through the emission of synchrotron light. To do this, the beam must pass through the RF cavities at exactly the right phase of the oscillating electric field.

In order to cause the necessary oscillation in the cavity resonators, energy must be supplied continuously. If there are disturbances here, or an interruption in the energy supply, the oscillation subsides due to the unavoidable damping. This would have significant consequences for maintaining the constant beam flow in the storage ring and thus for the operation of the entire system, i.e. for all experiments taking place at this time.

In this critical path, CNPEM relies on customized, robust and reliable DC power supplies from BENNING. The modular systems are based on the powerful and efficient TEBECHOP 13500 SE series rectifiers and guarantee the continuous supply of 48 V DC to the RF system amplifiers.

Highest reliability required

During the second implementation phase of the SIRIUS Laboratory project, CNPEM explored the market for experienced manufacturers of customized 48 V DC power supplies that could deliver at short notice. In this context, CNPEM contacted BENNING Brazil in June 2022.

In the following months, a series of discussions took place in which both CNPEM and the responsible engineers from SIRIUS were convinced of the advantages of the modular power supply systems that can be individually adapted by BENNING to the respective customer requirements.

These include high availability due to n+1 redundancy, hot-plug technology and the use of high-quality components. The transformerless robust DC power supplies based on the 19” TEBECHOP 13500 SE modules, are characterized by their first-class design and a very high power density. The resulting small footprint considerably simplifies on-site integration. This is another decisive advantage of the solution developed by BENNING, as the installation in the SIRIUS complex has to take place within special protected rooms with very limited space.

Paulo C. Anacleto

“The high reliability of our modular power supplies and the short delivery time were decisive for the customer in awarding the contract to BENNING.”

Paulo C. Anacleto
Sales Manager BENNING Brazil

Interior view of the SIRIUS circular accelerator with booster accelerator and storage ring
SIRIUS’ circular accelerators: On the left, facing the inner wall, is the Booster accelerator and in the central part is the Storage Ring
Section of the Storage Ring showing part of the electromagnets that compose the accelerator magnetic lattice
Section of the Storage Ring showing part of the electromagnets that compose the accelerator magnetic lattice

Short development and delivery time

After a detailed online factory tour, CNPEM and SIRIUS were impressed by the modern technologies used at BENNING for development, production and quality assurance. At the same time, insights into the high-bay warehouse, which has a floor area of 3,500 m² and more than 25,000 storage spaces for the stocking of components, provided the trust in a reliable delivery time that was necessary for the award of the contract.

The order was placed at the end of 2022 and already in May 2023 four modular DC power supply systems with a rated power of 120 kW each were delivered to SIRIUS. These systems are each based on nine 19” rectifier modules of the type TEBECHOP 13500 SE (380 VAC / 48 VDC). This module is particularly suitable for setting up power supply systems with load powers of more than 50 kW. The 3 U high 19” rectifier module has a three-phase mains connection, an active power factor correction (power factor 0.99) and provides a constant output power of 12000 W at 48 VDC or maximum 13500 W at 45 VDC.

Source: https://lnls.cnpem.br

Rectifier module TEBECHOP 13500 SE front view
Rectifier module TEBECHOP 13500 SE with a max output power of 13500 W
DC power supply system (max output power 135 kW), based on 10 rectifier plug-ins with 13500 W each
DC power supply system (max output power 135 kW), based on 10 rectifier plug-ins with 13500 W each
Efficiency and output line of the TEBECHOP 13500 SE
The TEBECHOP 13500 SE rectifiers operate with very good efficiency even in the load range from 25% to 90%. In plants requiring high power, the use of this rectifier series results in correspondingly high savings in electrical energy

Maximum availability, low MTTR

With the TEBECHOP SE product line, BENNING offers a new generation of very economical modular rectifier modules from 1000 W to 13500 W, which meet the requirements of sensitive and process-critical systems to the highest degree and, together with lead-acid or NiCd batteries connected in parallel, can be expanded into customized battery-supported backup power supplies.

Due to the “hot swap” capability, each module can be replaced in less than 10 minutes. This minimizes repair time (MTTR) while maximizing system availability.

High performance in the smallest space

The compact height (3 U) of the TEBECHOP 13500 SE and the relatively low power dissipation due to the good efficiency allow the operation of up to 10 rectifier modules of this type, with a maximum output power of 135 kW in a system cabinet with the dimensions (H x W x D) 2200 x 600 x 800 mm.

Five people in one room with system cabinets
The team (f. l. t. r.): Felipe Santiago (CNPEM), Lucas Carnevalli (CNPEM), Gonzalo Isla (BENNING Spain), Paulo Anacleto (BENNING Brazil), André Pontes (CNPEM)

Remote monitoring and safe operation

The MCU 3000 (Monitoring and Controlling Unit 3000) is used to operate and remotely monitor the systems. The operation is consequently adapted to the needs of the user and provides all necessary measuring and setting parameters in a clear, precise and easy-to-understand way.

In May 2024 an initial test of the rectifier systems was carried out on site, and the customer was enthusiastic about this smart solution for his very special application. As an outcome, CNPEM now has access to safe power supply systems that meet its high quality and innovation standards. Like the technology used in the SIRIUS laboratory, these systems combine maximum reliability and operational safety with the best possible efficiency and flexibility.

MCU 3000
The MCU 3000 has a 10” touch display. The integrated web server enables remote maintenance, for example as part of the proactive 360° service offered by BENNING, as well as connection to various network topologies

Brilliant solution for brilliant light

This future-oriented project once again proves the wide range of possibilities offered by BENNING’s modular power supply program for the realization of demanding critical applications, even within a tight time frame.

In line with the motto “Reliable Solutions, Powering Innovations”, the TEBECHOP SE systems supplied to SIRIUS will in future contribute to the safe and continuous operation of one of the world’s most brilliant synchrotron light sources, thus indirectly supporting innovative research in materials science, nanotechnology and many other fields.

Further Information

author/contact: Paulo Anacleto
telephone: +55 19 98270 0303
e-mail:

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