Power management for cryogen compressors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional economic power modes for helium-cooled superconducting magnets in MRI systems are inefficient due to continuous operation of the helium compressor and cold head, leading to excessive energy consumption and long recovery times, especially during periods of low system utilization.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced power management scheme that controls the helium compressor operation based on magnet pressure, temperature, and time, using a processor-driven magnet supervisory system to implement a time-based EPM cycle with stabilization, recondensing, and EPM control phases, ensuring the system's readiness for scanning operations while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the helium compressor and cold head operate continuously to maintain cryogen vessel pressure and temperature, then the system remains ready for scanning operations, but power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a time-based Economic Power Mode (EPM) cycle that periodically switches the helium compressor between active and standby states. The cycle includes stabilization phase (compressor active), recondensing phase (compressor active), and EPM control phase (compressor standby), creating periodic operation patterns that reduce overall power consumption while maintaining system readiness through timed transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary stabilization and recondensing phases before entering the power-saving EPM control phase. During these preliminary phases, the compressor is activated to stabilize pressure and recondense helium, ensuring the system is properly prepared before transitioning to standby mode, which prevents excessive recovery times when scanning is needed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the helium compressor is switched off during low utilization periods to reduce power consumption, then energy savings are achieved, but recovery time increases when scanning operations are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary stabilization and recondensing phases before entering the power-saving EPM control phase. During these preliminary phases, the compressor is activated to stabilize pressure and recondense helium, ensuring the system is properly prepared before transitioning to standby mode, which prevents excessive recovery times when scanning is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet supervisory system continuously monitors system conditions and uses feedback to determine when to transition between operational phases. The feedback mechanism tracks pressure, temperature, and timing parameters to optimally switch between active and standby modes, balancing power consumption with recovery time requirements.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the magnet supervisory system implements dynamic control of compressor operation based on pressure, temperature, and time, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic control by continuously adjusting compressor operation based on real-time pressure, temperature, and time parameters. The magnet supervisory system dynamically transitions between stabilization, recondensing, and EPM control phases, adapting the compressor's operational state to current system conditions rather than using fixed on/off control.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet supervisory system performs multiple functions: it monitors pressure, temperature, and timing; controls compressor operation; manages phase transitions; and maintains system readiness. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control system, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving dynamic power management.
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
The enhanced power management scheme significantly reduces power consumption of the cryogenic refrigerator, maintains operational readiness, and avoids long recovery times by dynamically adjusting compressor operation according to system needs, ensuring cryogen vessel pressure and temperature remain within operational ranges.
Implementation Method 1
By cooling the helium gas within the cryogen vessel with coldhead 17, which is connected to helium compressor 28, the gaseous helium can be re-condensed into a liquid. As a consequence, the cryogen vessel pressure reduces and unwanted thermal energy is removed from the cryogen vessel.
Implementation Method 2
The pressure heater introduces heat to boil a proportion of the helium within the cryogen vessel and so to increase a pressure within the cryogen vessel.
Data Source
AI summary
In a superconducting magnet arrangement, such as used in a magnetic resonance system, and a power management method therefor, an enhanced economic power mode (EPM) is implemented wherein the compressor operation is controlled by magnet pressure, temperature and time, so as to ensure the readiness of the magnet system for a scanning operation upon exiting the enhanced EPM. A processor implementing the enhanced EPM looks for a signal that indicates that the magnet system is operational and, in the absence of that signal for a predetermined period of time, enters into EPM. Exit from EPM occurs if certain conditions are violated, but then re-entry into EPM is attempted (re-starting EPM), thereby making the magnet system ready for operation again, if and when a patient scan is to be implemented.