Apparatus and method for generating cryogenic temperatures and use thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic temperature generation systems face challenges in achieving efficient cooling while avoiding coolant maldistribution at the cold end of countercurrent heat exchangers, which complicates the system and requires manual mixing of coolant components.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for generating cryogenic temperatures that includes a cooling stage with a cold region containing a first heat exchanger, expansion units, and a buffer volume for partial condensation of the coolant mixture, allowing for autonomous operation with a predefined coolant mixture and preventing coolant maldistribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual mixing of coolant components is used to achieve predefined coolant composition, then refrigeration performance is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically maintains the predefined coolant mixture composition through self-regulating mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual mixing operations while preserving the optimized refrigeration performance achieved by the specific coolant composition
2Productivity
If countercurrent heat exchanger is used for coolant cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but coolant maldistribution occurs at the cold end
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares and pre-distributes the coolant mixture to the cold end of the heat exchanger before the cooling process begins, ensuring uniform coolant distribution is established in advance, which prevents maldistribution issues during operation while maintaining high cooling efficiency
3Ease of operation
If system complexity is reduced to avoid manual operations, then ease of operation is improved, but autonomous operation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates self-regulating mechanisms and automatic control features that enable autonomous operation without requiring complex manual intervention systems, achieving simplicity in operation while maintaining autonomous capability through intelligent self-management of the coolant cycle
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 solution enables efficient cryogenic temperature generation with increased refrigeration performance, autonomous operation, and prevention of coolant maldistribution, thereby simplifying system control and reducing operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
In an expansion unit, preferably selected from an expansion valve, a throttle capillary, a diaphragm and a sinter element, the coolant expands adiabatically to a low pressure level and cools down further by using the Joule-Thomson effect given a positive Joule-Thomson coefficient μJT
Implementation Method 2
Subsequently, the coolant is cooled down in a countercurrent heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
The Linde-Hampson cycle process commences in a compressor in which a fluid coolant is compressed to a high pressure, with release of any energy of compaction that arises here in a downstream cooler to an environment of the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (112) and to a method (210) for generating cryogenic temperatures. The apparatus (112) comprises at least one cooling stage (111) which has a cold region (110) and a warm region (116), and a refrigerant mixture designed specifically for the cooling stage (111) is provided in the warm region (116), the refrigerant mixture having at least two components each having a different boiling temperature, and the cold region (110) comprises at least one cooling stage (111): —a first heat exchanger (122), which has a high-pressure side (120) to receive the refrigerant mixture at a high-pressure level from the warm region (116) of the cooling stage (111) and a low-pressure side (126) to deliver the refrigerant mixture to the warm region (116) of the cooling stage (111); —a first expansion device (136), which is designed for expansion and for cooling of the refrigerant mixture at a low-pressure level; —a second heat exchanger (148), which is designed for cooling and for partial condensation of a proportion of the refrigerant mixture located in a buffer volume (140), the buffer volume (140) being designed to limit the pressure exerted by the refrigerant mixture; and —a second expansion device (150), which is designed for separation of the buffer volume (140) from the low-pressure level of the cooling stage (111) or connection of the buffer volume (140) to said low-pressure level. The invention enables autonomous operation of the apparatus (112) and of the method (210) for generating cryogenic temperatures, in which each cooling stage (111) of the apparatus (112) can be filled with a pre-defined refrigerant mixture and can be permanently operated, and in particular in the cooling phase the refrigerating capacity can be increased, while incorrect distribution of the refrigerant of the relevant cooling stage (111) among parallel flow channels at the cold end of the first heat exchanger (122) can be prevented.