Cryogenic cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic cooling systems face challenges in balancing cryogenic cooling, where existing technologies have not adequately addressed the need for efficient thermal coupling and temperature stabilization, resulting in performance issues such as instability and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic cooling system with a vacuum enclosure, multiple cryocoolers, and a controlled thermal coupling mechanism using actuators or materials with varying thermal conductivities to manage thermal coupling based on temperature thresholds, allowing efficient cooling of both cryogenic and cold stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all cryocoolers are used to cool the 4-kelvin stage and other parts of the system, then the cooling power is increased and cooling time is reduced, but the temperature of the helium increases which affects the performance and stability of the dilution refrigerator
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal coupling between the first cooling stage and first cold stage is made dynamic through a controlled thermal coupling that can be adjusted based on temperature. The coupling element transitions between different thermal conductance states depending on whether the temperature is above or below a threshold, allowing the system to adaptively manage heat transfer pathways to maintain helium temperature stability while maximizing cooling power.
2Reliability
If some of the cryocoolers are dedicated to cooling the helium, then the stability of the dilution refrigerator is maintained, but the cooling time of the cryogenic cooling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or conditional activation of different cooling pathways based on temperature thresholds. The controlled thermal coupling enables the system to switch between different operational modes: when temperature is above threshold, full thermal coupling provides maximum cooling power; when temperature drops below threshold, the coupling reduces to prevent over-cooling and maintain stability, creating a periodic control pattern that optimizes both speed and stability.
3Productivity
If thermal coupling between cooling stages is maintained at all temperatures, then cooling efficiency is maximized, but temperature control precision decreases due to inability to prevent overheating of sensitive components
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal conductance parameter of the coupling element is changed based on temperature conditions. The coupling element is designed with temperature-dependent thermal properties or controllable thermal pathways that adjust the thermal conductance G1 between the first cooling stage and first cold stage. This parameter change enables precise temperature control by preventing excessive heat transfer when the cold stage approaches target temperature, while maintaining efficient heat transfer during active cooling phases.
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 system achieves efficient thermal management and reduces the time of the system by using both cryogenic and cold stages.
Implementation Method 1
at least one thermal coupling of the first conduit and the first cooling stage for cooling the fluid cooling medium on its way towards the working region
Implementation Method 2
at least one thermal coupling of the second cooling stage and the first cold stage for cooling the first cold stage
Implementation Method 3
the coupling element comprises a controlled thermal coupling for reducing the first thermal coupling when a relevant temperature of the cryogenic cooling system is below a threshold temperature
Implementation Method 4
the first material comprises a superconducting material wherein a critical temperature of the superconducting material is higher than the threshold temperature
Implementation Method 5
a vacuum enclosure and a working region within the vacuum enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A cryogenic cooling system (100), having a working region (101), a first cryocooler (102) having a first cooling stage (103), a first conduit (104) for passing a stream of fluid cooling medium towards the working region (101), at least one thermal coupling (105) of the first conduit (104) and the first cooling stage (103) for cooling the fluid cooling medium, a second cryocooler (106) having a second cooling stage (107), a first cold stage (108), at least one thermal coupling (110) of the second cooling stage (107) and the first cold stage (108) for cooling the first cold stage (108), and a first thermal coupling (111) of the first cooling stage (103) and the first cold stage (108), provided by a coupling element (109), for cooling the first cold stage (108), wherein the coupling element (109) has a controlled thermal coupling for reducing the first thermal coupling when a relevant temperature of the cryogenic cooling system (100) is below a threshold temperature.