Cooling systems and methods

Abstract

An ion therapy system comprises a particle accelerator (1) mounted on a rotatable gantry (2). The particle accelerator includes a superconducting coil (17) which rotates about its axis as the particle accelerator rotates about the gantry axis in use to direct an output beam towards a target from different directions. The particle accelerator is rotatable through (180) degrees to move the beam through a corresponding arc. The particle accelerator includes cooling system arranged to cool the coil as the coil rotates. The superconducting coil (17) is mounted in a coil support (25). The coil is surrounded by a cryogen chamber (32) which is located radially outwardly from the coil (17) on the other side of the support (25). The cryogen chamber is in fluid communication with a cryogen recondensing unit (29) whereby vaporized cryogen may flow from the cryogen chamber (32) to the cryogen recondensing unit (29) to be recondensed in use before returning to the cryogen chamber. Thermally conductive means (40) is arranged to facilitate heat transfer from the superconducting coil (17) to the cryogen chamber (32) to vaporize cryogen contained therein in use and thereby remove heat from the coil.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system and method for a particle accelerator comprising one or more superconducting coils, and more particularly to a cooling system for a rotatable particle accelerator comprising one or more superconducting coils and methods. Background technique [0002] Particle accelerators are used in many applications including, for example, particle physics applications, and ion therapy, such as heavy ion therapy or proton therapy. In certain applications, it is desirable to be able to direct the output beam to impinge on the target from several different directions. This technique is often used in ion therapy applications in an attempt to irradiate target structures such as tumors while reducing the irradiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue. [0003] In some conventional systems, steering of the output beam can be accomplished by using a static particle accelerator to supply the particle beam and providing a st...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, in practice, there are practical difficulties associated with conducting heat over significant distances

Accordingly, applicants have recognized that such systems are also not suitable for keeping the temperature of superconducting coils low and stable, which is desirable to maintain efficient operation of a particle accelerator

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