Commissioning of the Tevatron Satellite Refrigeration System

Completetion of the new Fermilab 6 km circumference superconducting proton accelerator, the Tevatron, was in the summer of 1983. During the commissioning of portions of the accelerator, extensive refrigerator and magnet power testing have been performed. Considerable operating experience was acquired on a three refrigerator, 0.75 km magnet system (Jan. 1982)1 as well as an eight refrigerator, two km magnet string system (Jan 1983). The entire refrigerator system was operational on May 28, 1983. The first beam was accelerated to an energy level of 512 GeV on July 3, 1983. Operational problems experienced during these tests are presented.