Cryostat Side-by-Side Experimentation Layout for Overhead Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryostats for temperatures below 2K are large and tall due to a vertically suspended arrangement, making experimentation places inaccessible from above and requiring significant space, which complicates handling and operation in standard laboratory settings.
Innovation Solution
A cryostat design with experimentation places arranged side by side, allowing access from above and the side after removing heat shields, reducing the construction height and enabling operation in standard-height laboratory spaces, while compensating for increased heat shield surface area with enhanced cooling power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a vertically suspended arrangement of cooling levels is used, then the cryostat can be manufactured with nested structures, but the construction height increases and experimentation places become inaccessible from above
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a purely vertical arrangement to a hybrid arrangement where cold plates are positioned both vertically and horizontally. Specifically, the first cold plate is arranged horizontally and the second cold plate is arranged vertically relative to it, creating a three-dimensional layout that enables access to experimentation places from multiple directions including from above, while maintaining the nested structure for manufacturability
2Length of stationary object
If a vertically suspended arrangement of cooling levels is used, then the structure is compact vertically, but the cryostat requires significant laboratory space and complicates handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a three-dimensional arrangement of cold plates where the first cold plate is horizontal and the second cold plate is vertical, utilizing both vertical and horizontal dimensions. This distributed spatial arrangement reduces the overall construction height while spreading the structure across the laboratory floor, making it more manageable in standard laboratory spaces
3Ease of operation
If experimentation places are arranged side by side, then accessibility from above is improved, but heat shield surface area increases requiring enhanced cooling power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges experimentation places in a three-dimensional configuration with cold plates positioned at different heights and orientations. This vertical stacking approach allows access from above while minimizing the horizontal footprint, thereby reducing the surface area of heat shields required compared to a purely horizontal side-by-side arrangement
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 side-by-side arrangement of experimentation places improves accessibility, simplifies handling, and reduces the cryostat's construction height, allowing operation in standard laboratory spaces without the need for extensive space, despite the potential increase in heat shield surface area.
Implementation Method 1
A fourth cooling device not shown in detail, e.g., a 3He/4He dilution refrigerator system, provides the temperature levels of the fourth, fifth and sixth cooling levels 2-4, 2-5 and 2-6
Implementation Method 2
A first cooling device not shown in detail, e.g., a first level of a Gifford-McMahon (GM) cooler, comprises a first cold plate 8-1
Implementation Method 3
A third cold plate 8-3 of a third cooling level 2-3 having a temperature level of about 1K is arranged below the second experimentation place 4-2. The third cooling level 2-3 is cooled by a third cooling device not shown in detail, e.g., a Joule-Thomson level
Implementation Method 4
Within the vacuum chamber 10, all six cooling levels 2-1 to 2-6 are surrounded by a first heat shield 12-1. Within the first heat shield 12-1, the second to sixth cooling levels 6-2 to 6-6 are surrounded by a second heat shield 12-2
Implementation Method 5
The entire arrangement is arranged in a vacuum chamber 10. Within the vacuum chamber 10, all six cooling levels 2-1 to 2-6 are surrounded by a first heat shield 12-1
Data Source
AI summary
A cryostat with improved accessibility for experiments includes a cooling device, a vacuum chamber and multiple cooling levels, heat shields and experimentation places. The cooling device is thermally coupled to cooling levels that have different temperatures. The experimentation places are at the temperatures of the cooling levels and are arranged side by side when viewed from above such that each experimentation place is accessible from above and from the side. Each cooling level has an associated heat shield that also encloses an experimentation place. The vacuum chamber encloses the cooling levels. The cold plate of a second cooling level is arranged above the cold plate of a first cooling level such that a portion of the first cold plate protrudes laterally from under the second cold plate. An experimentation place is disposed above the protruding portion of the first cold plate and is accessible from above and from the side.