Cryogenic Thermal Storage Modules for Stable Low-Mass Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryogenic cooling systems face challenges in maintaining cryogenic temperatures due to limited heat capacity of materials used, leading to inefficient heat removal and potential temperature fluctuations in cryogenic devices like superconducting magnets, which can result in device malfunction and require high mass and volume.
Innovation Solution
The development of solid composite Thermal Energy Storage (TES) modules using conductive fibers and high thermal capacity polymers, which are designed to absorb and conduct heat effectively, allowing for increased thermal capacity without significant mass or volume increase, and can be reconfigured with cryocoolers and thermal switches to manage heat transfer efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional materials are used in cryogenic cooling systems, then the system structure is simple, but the heat capacity is limited leading to temperature fluctuations and device malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials consisting of high thermal capacity polymer matrices combined with thermally conductive filler particles. This composite structure enables the thermal storage blocks to achieve high thermal capacity while maintaining good thermal conductivity, thereby stabilizing temperatures in cryogenic devices without requiring excessive material quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the thermal properties of materials by changing their physical and chemical parameters. Specifically, it selects polymers with high specific heat capacity and incorporates conductive fillers to optimize thermal conductivity. These parameter changes enable the material to store more thermal energy per unit mass while effectively conducting heat away from cryogenic devices.
2Reliability
If thermal capacity is increased to maintain stable temperatures, then temperature stability improves, but mass and volume of the system increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material structure combines lightweight polymer matrices with conductive filler particles, achieving high thermal capacity without proportionally increasing mass. The polymer matrix provides high specific heat capacity while the filler particles enhance thermal conductivity, creating a material that delivers superior thermal management performance per unit mass compared to conventional materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes thermally conductive filler particles locally within the polymer matrix to create regions of enhanced heat conduction where needed. This local quality enhancement allows the material to achieve high thermal capacity and conductivity without uniformly increasing density throughout the entire structure, thereby controlling system mass.
3Productivity
If conventional thermal storage materials are used, then the system is easy to manufacture, but heat removal efficiency is insufficient leading to thermal gradients
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material combines thermally conductive filler particles within a polymer matrix to enhance heat removal efficiency. The conductive fillers create thermal pathways that rapidly conduct heat away from hot spots, reducing thermal gradients. The polymer matrix provides structural integrity and ease of fabrication, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving heat transfer performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the porous or particulate structure of the composite material to increase surface area for heat transfer. The distributed filler particles create numerous thermal conduction pathways throughout the material volume, enhancing heat removal efficiency without requiring complex manufacturing processes. The porous structure allows for effective heat diffusion while maintaining material processability.
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
These TES modules enhance the heat management capabilities of cryogenic devices, maintaining stable temperatures, reducing thermal gradients, and extending operational time by increasing the thermal capacity while minimizing mass and volume, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of cryogenic cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal storage block may be made of a combination of thermal conducting elements to conduct heat
Implementation Method 2
solid storage elements to absorb heat
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a system, and an article of manufacture are disclosed for cryogenic cooling of systems operating at cryogenic temperatures or higher. Applications of this disclosure are as varied as trucking of meat and vegetable to mine sweeping and MRI systems. A cooling network is formed by coupling blocks of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) modules together with optional thermal switches or valves and optionally with an active cooling component to maintain a cryogenic temperature in a cryostat. The TES modules are combinations of thermal conducting elements to conduct heat and solid storage elements to absorb heat. The cooling component may be one or more cryocoolers for steady state and transient heat transfer conditions and may be coupled with the TES modules via thermal shunt connections. The thermal switches or valves may be deployed within the thermal shunts to control the flow of heat between different TES modules and cooling components, thus reconfiguring the cooling network.