Cryogenic Cooling Layout for Stable Cold Platform Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic cooling systems experience temperature fluctuations due to dew recondensation during the regeneration cycles of single-shot refrigerators, leading to undesirable heating and instability in the cold platform temperature.
Innovation Solution
A low hydraulic impedance path is created between the condensation surfaces of two single-shot refrigerators, allowing evaporated dew to preferentially condense on the other cooled surface instead of the cold platform, thereby reducing temperature fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If single-shot refrigerators are operated in regeneration mode, then the refrigerators can be reset for subsequent cooling cycles, but dew evaporates from the cold surface and recondenses elsewhere causing temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful recondensation process is extracted and redirected from the cold platform to a dedicated condensation surface. The enclosure captures evaporated dew and guides it to condense on the cold surface of the other SSR, separating the harmful effect from the cold platform while maintaining continuous operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure acts as an intermediary system between the evaporating dew and the cold platform. It provides a controlled path that intercepts the evaporated coolant and redirects it to condense on the alternative cold surface, preventing direct recondensation on the cold platform and thus stabilizing its temperature
2Loss of substance
If dew is allowed to recondense on the cold platform, then the coolant is recovered, but the latent heat of condensation causes undesirable heating and temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful latent heat of condensation is converted into a beneficial cooling effect by redirecting the condensation process to the cold surface of the other SSR. The condensation that would normally heat the cold platform is now used to maintain the cold surface of the regenerating refrigerator, turning a harmful thermal effect into a useful cooling mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure serves as an intermediary that captures the evaporated dew and guides it to condense on the alternative cold surface. This intermediary system ensures that coolant recovery occurs while the thermal effects are directed away from the cold platform, maintaining both substance recovery and temperature stability
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 solution significantly reduces temperature fluctuations during the cooling-regeneration change-over period, maintaining a more stable cold platform temperature and improving the operational reliability of cryogenic cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
the said surfaces being selectively cooled when in use by the respective first and second single-shot refrigerators such that coolant gas condenses on the surfaces as liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
the evaporated dew from a warmed condensation surface will preferentially flow to the other cooled condensation surface thereby condensing on the cold condensation surface
Implementation Method 3
evaporated dew from a warmed condensation surface will preferentially flow to the other cooled condensation surface thereby condensing on the cold condensation surface
Implementation Method 4
the enclosure is adapted to provide a path for gaseous coolant between the first and second condensation surfaces, the path having a lower hydraulic impedance than that between each of the condensation surfaces and the cold platform
Data Source
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AI summary
Cryogenic apparatus is provided having first and second single-shot refrigerators (1,2) and an enclosure (31) for containing a coolant gas. First and second condensation surfaces (13,14) are provided within the enclosure, the said surfaces being selectively cooled when in use by the respective first and second single-shot refrigerators such that coolant gas condenses on the surfaces as liquid coolant. A cold platform (10) receives the liquid coolant from the condensation surfaces. The enclosure is adapted to provide a path (20) for gaseous coolant between the first and second condensation surfaces, the path having a lower hydraulic impedance than that (11,12) between each of the condensation surfaces and the cold platform.