Cryogenic system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic coolers face disruptions in cooling operations due to failures in refrigerant circulation paths, leading to heat penetration and reduced cooling capacity, as a single failed refrigerator can create a heat transfer path from the high-temperature section to the low-temperature section, compromising the continuity of cryogenic cooling.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic system with multiple refrigerant circulation loops and a switchable connection line that isolates or connects loops based on failure modes, using on-off valves to prevent backflow and redirect refrigerant circulation, thereby maintaining cooling continuity by utilizing operational loops and limiting heat transfer through optimized refrigerant pipe design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a single refrigerator is installed on each refrigerant circulation path to cool the refrigerant, then the cooling capacity is concentrated and efficient, but the reliability of continuous cooling operation deteriorates because failure of one refrigerator causes loss of cooling capacity and creates a heat transfer path from high-temperature to low-temperature section
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the refrigerant circulation into multiple independent loops (first refrigerant circulation loop and second refrigerant circulation loop), each with its own refrigerator. This segmentation allows one loop to compensate for another when a refrigerator fails, maintaining continuous cooling operation and preventing heat transfer paths from forming in the low-temperature section.
2Reliability
If multiple refrigerant circulation loops are created with independent refrigerators to improve reliability, then the continuity of cooling operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional refrigerators and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the first and second refrigerant circulation loops through a common low-temperature section and shared refrigerant pipes, allowing the loops to operate independently during normal conditions but connect and compensate for each other when failures occur. This merging reduces the need for completely separate systems while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different operational modes using on-off valves: normal mode where both loops operate independently, and failure compensation mode where the healthy loop compensates for the failed loop by connecting through the common low-temperature section. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability without requiring permanently complex configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the connection line is always connected to allow refrigerant circulation between loops, then the system flexibility is improved, but heat penetration increases because a failed refrigerator continuously creates a heat transfer path from high-temperature to low-temperature section
Solution Approach 1:
The connection line's state is dynamically controlled based on system conditions: it remains disconnected during normal operation to prevent heat transfer paths, and is connected only when a refrigerator failure is detected to enable compensation mode. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain both flexibility and minimize heat penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The on-off valves act as intermediaries that control the connection state between refrigerant loops, preventing direct heat transfer paths when disconnected while enabling compensatory refrigerant flow when connected. These intermediaries allow the system to balance flexibility needs with heat penetration prevention.
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 ensures continued cryogenic cooling by isolating failed loops and redirecting refrigerant flow, reducing heat penetration and maintaining stable cooling performance even with failures, using a combination of on-off valves and low-temperature-section refrigerant pipes to manage heat transfer effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerator, which is stopped due to a failure or the like, forms a heat transfer path to the low-temperature section from the high-temperature section
Implementation Method 2
using on-off valves to prevent backflow and redirect refrigerant circulation
Implementation Method 3
a cooler that cools a refrigerant by such a mechanical refrigerator and cools an object to be cooled by a refrigerant
Data Source
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AI summary
The continuity of the cooling operation of a cryogenic system is improved. A cryogenic system (10) includes a cryogenic cooling unit (20), a plurality of refrigerant circulation loops (12) which cool the cryogenic cooling unit (20) by heat exchange between the cryogenic cooling unit (20) and a refrigerant and each of which includes a circulation pump (26) circulating the refrigerant and a refrigerator (28) cooling the refrigerant, and a connection line (14) that connects the plurality of refrigerant circulation loops (12) to allow the refrigerant to be circulated. The connection line (14) is adapted to be switchable to a connected state from an unconnected state, isolates the plurality of refrigerant circulation loops (12) from each other in the unconnected state so that the circulation pump (26) of each refrigerant circulation loop (12) circulates the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation loop (12), and connects the plurality of refrigerant circulation loops (12) in the connected state so that the circulation pump (26) of at least one refrigerant circulation loop (12) circulates the refrigerant in at least one of the other refrigerant circulation loops (12) as well.