Kaspar Particle Accelerator
The Kaspar Particle Accelerator, also called KPAL (Kaspar Particle Accelerator Laboratory), is an extremely large hadron collider type particle accelerator, currently owned and operated by the Kingdom of Moorland. It was originally constructed by Riponia to help provide power to Liiansaari in the city of Dyvelsten. It was found in semi-ruinous state by scientists from the Kasperian Expedition in 1731. Once secured, the site became a laboratory for work to be conducted in particle acceleration research. It is a synchrotron type accelerator, in which the accelerating particle beam travels around a fixed closed-loop path. The magnetic field which bends the particle beam into its closed path increases with time during the accelerating process, being synchronized to the increasing kinetic energy of the particles. Although most details have been kept from the public due to security concerns, the KPAL accelerator measures some 17mi in diameter and was purported to generate enough power to provide radiant heat to Riponia's colonies on Hypernostria - a long-term yet ill-fated plan to try and terraform the island. Currently Moorland is conducting research and restoration efforts on KPAL and hopes to bring the unit back online within the next few years; albeit at a fraction of its generating power.
Capabilities
The original KPAL plant was powered by four small modular reactors (SMRs) that each produced 300MW of electricity. Two of the SMRs were dedicated to exclusively providing power for the particle accelerator, which used about 200MW when running. The other two were dedicated to the environmental functioning of the city, primarily Riponia's terraforming machinery. This included heat pumps and geothermal tubes that were used to warm the bedrock and melt glacial ice. Upon discovery by Moorland in 1731, none of the reactors or accelerator were functioning. Three of the reactors had sustained damage from years of neglect, but this damage did not compromise containment so that radioactivity was kept shielded. By 1737, staff had installed two diesel generators to supply power and had managed to restore one of the SMRs to functionality. Long-term plans are to get all four reactors back online and power up the accelerator. Unlike Riponia, Moorland does not intend to use the systems for terraforming. Instead, it plans to use these systems for nuclear research, hoping to further develop modular nuclear power plants, naval ships, and, eventually, fusion reactors.
Laboratory
Security
KPAL is a heavily regulated high-security base, considered to hold ultra-sensitive materials with a potential for terrorism should they fall into the wrong hands. As such, a strict background check process is used to document and verify employees and staff, including military personnel, before they can be assigned to the lab. Security clearances are granted on 5-year terms and can be renewed, but staff are required to go through the background check again (mostly to update information). Most staff are expected to either live at the base or nearby in Bee Haven. The perimeter of the base is fenced with razor wire and protected by several guard towers. Gated access allows enter and exit through a single point on one road leading to Bee Haven. No other access points are allowed. A guard unit is also stationed at Bee Haven. The base is otherwise supplied with its own electricity, water and emergency response team.
