Cryostat Insert Passageways for Transport Heat Input Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting magnet systems in MRI systems experience significant heat input during transportation due to inactive refrigerators and open access paths, leading to cryogen loss and prolonged cooling times upon arrival.
Innovation Solution
A removable insert is positioned within the access neck and other openings of the cryostat, creating passageways for cryogen gas to flow over inner surfaces, enhancing heat exchange and reducing parasitic heat load by using the cold gas for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the refrigerator is removed or left inactive during transportation, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but heat input into the cryostat increases leading to cryogen loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary heat exchanger component that mediates between the ambient environment and the cryostat interior. This heat exchanger allows cold cryogen gas to flow over its external surface, creating a thermal barrier that reduces heat input into the cryostat during transportation when the refrigerator is inactive, thereby reducing cryogen loss without requiring the refrigerator to be operational
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the cryogen gas to serve a dual function: it both cools the superconducting magnet system (its primary function) and cools the heat exchanger component (a secondary self-service function). By utilizing the cold cryogen gas to pre-cool the heat exchanger, the system reduces its own heat load during transportation without requiring additional active cooling systems
2Ease of operation
If the access neck remains open for filling and service, then ease of operation is improved, but heat input into the cryostat increases during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component installed in the access neck. This heat exchanger provides a controlled thermal interface that allows the access neck to remain open for filling and service operations while simultaneously reducing parasitic heat input into the cryostat during transportation by allowing cold cryogen gas to flow over its external surface
3Temperature
If the refrigerator provides a low thermal resistance path during operation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but heat input during transportation increases when the refrigerator is inactive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal management function into two distinct modes: during operation, the refrigerator provides active cooling through a low thermal resistance path; during transportation, the heat exchanger component provides passive cooling by utilizing the flow of cold cryogen gas over its external surface. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific operational context
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as a thermal intermediary that can operate independently of the refrigerator. During transportation, it mediates the thermal interaction between the ambient environment and the cryostat interior by allowing cold cryogen gas to flow over its external surface, thereby reducing heat input and cryogen loss when the refrigerator is inactive
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 effectively reduces heat input during transportation, minimizing cryogen loss and enabling quicker system deployment by utilizing the cryogen gas for cooling the inner surfaces of the cryostat, thus extending the system's operational time between refills.
Implementation Method 1
the insert is adapted to provide one or more passageways for a cryogen through the opening by defining at least one space between the outer surface of the insert and at least one part of the inner surface of the opening, this space allowing the cryogen to pass over the part of the inner surface of the opening
Data Source
AI summary
In a cryostat, in particular for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, and a method for reducing heat input into such a cryostat, an insert is provided that is adapted to be inserted into an opening of the cryostat. The insert is adapted to provide one or more passageways for a cryogen through the opening by defining at least one space between the outer surface of the insert and at least one part of the inner surface of the opening. This space allows the cryogen to pass over the part of the inner surface of the opening.