Cooling container
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryostats face challenges in reducing heat leaks from electric current leads due to gas convection, leading to increased coolant consumption and system complexity, with existing solutions either failing to address convection effects or requiring complex and costly setups.
Innovation Solution
A cryostat design featuring a thermal resistance section in the electric current lead with a higher thermal resistance than the rest, positioned above the liquid coolant level, combined with a partition section made of heat-insulating material that extends below the thermal resistance section to reduce heat convection to the cooling unit, effectively shielding the coolant from heated gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the electric current lead is extended outside the coolant container to reduce heat leak, then the heat transfer path is extended and heat leak is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional insulation structures required
Solution Approach 1:
The electric current lead is divided into multiple sections with different thermal resistance characteristics. The upper portion has higher thermal resistance to block heat conduction, while the lower portion has lower thermal resistance to maintain electrical conductivity. This segmentation allows the lead to simultaneously reduce heat leak while maintaining its primary function without requiring complex external insulation structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the electric current lead are given different thermal properties. The upper section near the coolant container has high thermal resistance to prevent heat conduction into the coolant, while the lower section has lower thermal resistance. This local differentiation of thermal quality allows the single component to address heat leak issues without adding complex external insulation systems.
2Loss of energy
If coolant gas is fed to the channel in the electric current lead to cool it, then heat leak is reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase due to requiring additional cooling devices
Solution Approach 1:
The electric current lead structure itself provides the cooling function through its inherent thermal resistance design. The high thermal resistance upper section naturally prevents heat conduction without requiring external cooling systems. The lead serves its own cooling needs through its structural design rather than requiring separate cooling devices, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining heat leak reduction.
3Productivity
If a partition section is added to shield the cooling unit from heated gas, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition section is integrated with the electric current lead structure itself, forming a unified component rather than a separate shielding device. The lead structure serves dual purposes: conducting electricity and providing thermal shielding through its high thermal resistance upper section. This merging eliminates the need for additional separate partition devices while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces heat transfer to the coolant, minimizing the cooling load on the refrigeration system and enabling efficient cooling by creating a temperature difference across the thermal resistance section, thus reducing the impact of heat leaks on the coolant container.
Implementation Method 1
the electric current lead comprises a thermal resistance section which is disposed in the inner space of the coolant container at a level higher than a liquid level of the liquid coolant, and which has a thermal resistance higher than parts of the electric current lead above and below the thermal resistance section
Implementation Method 2
a partition section which is made of a heat insulating material, and which is disposed between the thermal resistance section and the cooling section of the cooling unit
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerator to cool the coolant in the coolant container
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling container includes a coolant container (20) for accommodating an object to be cooled (90) and a liquid coolant (60) in the inside, a lid member (30) capable of closing the upper opening of the coolant container, a cooling means (40) hung from and supported by the lid member and having a cooling section at the lower end, and electric current leads (91) hung from and supported by the lid member, for making electric current flow into the object to be cooled inside the coolant container. The electric current leads each have a thermal resistance section (92) having a higher thermal resistance than the surrounding portions, at a position above the liquid surface of the liquid coolant in the coolant container. Between the thermal resistance sections and the cooling section of the cooling means, a partition section (50) made from a heat insulation material is provided such that the lower end of the partition section is below the thermal resistance sections. As a result, the effect of penetrating heat can be prevented to allow the inside of the coolant container to be efficiently cooled.