Cryostat assembly having a resilient, heat-conducting connection element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryostat assemblies face issues with mechanical over-determination leading to uncontrolled movements and eddy currents in the tube element, which interfere with NMR measurements, due to rigid connections between the storage tank and the cover element, and poor thermal conductivity materials used to prevent eddy currents weakening the mechanical structure.
Innovation Solution
A resilient, vibration-absorbing connection element is used to connect the cover element to the storage tank and the tube element, maintaining thermal conductivity while allowing independent movements, and a rigid connection between the tube element and the coil tank to suppress relative movements and eddy currents, with copper strands or corrugated bellows as resilient connection elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid connection is used between the storage tank and the cover element, then mechanical stability is improved, but uncontrollable movements occur due to mechanical over-determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid connection between the storage tank and cover element with a resilient connection element that has elastic properties. This allows the connection to dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and contraction of the cryogenic fluids, preventing mechanical over-determination while maintaining mechanical stability. The resilient connection element can deform elastically to accommodate volume changes in the storage tank without causing uncontrollable movements.
2Strength
If a rigid connection is used between the storage tank and the cover element, then structural strength is improved, but eddy currents are generated in the tube element
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient connection element introduces dynamic flexibility that prevents the transmission of vibrations and movements from the storage tank to the tube element. By allowing relative movement through elastic deformation, the resilient connection breaks the rigid mechanical coupling that would otherwise transmit forces causing eddy currents in the tube element, while still providing sufficient structural strength.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If poor electrical conductivity material is used for the connection element to prevent eddy currents, then eddy currents are reduced, but thermal conductivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element is segmented into distinct functional zones: one portion provides electrical isolation to prevent eddy currents, while another portion maintains thermal conductivity for heat transfer. This segmentation allows the connection element to simultaneously satisfy both requirements by having different material properties in different regions or layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection element uses composite material construction combining materials with different properties. One material provides electrical insulation to prevent eddy currents, while another material provides thermal conductivity for heat transfer. The composite structure integrates these conflicting requirements into a single connection element that satisfies both electrical and thermal demands.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If the tube element is slotted to prevent eddy currents, then eddy currents are reduced, but mechanical strength is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the tube element by slotting it, the harmful effect of eddy currents is extracted and prevented at its source - the resilient connection element. By preventing eddy currents in the connection element rather than trying to prevent them in the tube element, the tube element's mechanical integrity is preserved without slots or openings.
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 suppresses eddy currents, stabilizes the magnetic field homogeneity, and allows the tube element to serve as a carrier for shim elements, reducing interference in NMR spectra and maintaining low temperatures to minimize cryogenic fluid losses.
Implementation Method 1
the storage tank being thermally connected to a cover element which is thermally conductively and mechanically rigidly connected to a tube element and is thermally conductively and mechanically rigidly connected to the first suspension element via at least one coupling element
Implementation Method 2
a resilient, vibration-absorbing connection element is used to connect the cover element to the storage tank and the tube element
Implementation Method 3
a rigid connection between the tube element and the coil tank to suppress relative movements and eddy currents
Implementation Method 4
the temperature of the first cryogenic fluid being below that of the second cryogenic fluid at least in an operating state of the superconducting magnet coil system
Data Source
AI summary
A cryostat assembly comprises an outer container that houses a coil tank with a superconducting magnet coil system and a first cryogenic fluid, and a storage tank with a second cryogenic fluid. The coil tank is secured to the outer container by a first suspension element and the storage tank is secured to the outer container by a second suspension element. The storage tank is thermally connected to a cover element having a mechanical and thermally-conductive connection to a tube element and to the first suspension element. The cover element connects to the storage tank via a resilient, heat-conducting connection that is in thermal contact with the cover element and the storage tank. This allows thermal coupling between the storage tank and cover element, and independent relative movements between the storage tank and cover element, while suppressing relative movements between the tube element and the superconducting magnet coil system.