Compact Superconducting Cyclotron Cold Mass Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing superconducting cyclotron designs face technical complexities due to the need for multiple openings in the magnetic structure for cryocooler access and the requirement of insulation between the magnetic poles and the beam chamber, which increases installation complexity and magnetic field losses, and limits the ability to dismount poles during magnetic mapping.
Innovation Solution
A cyclotron design where the ring-shaped magnetic return yoke and superconducting coils form a cold mass within a cryostat, excluding the upper and lower poles, allowing for reduced insulation needs and easier pole dismounting, with access for cooling via openings in the cryostat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cryostat encloses only the coils, then the magnetic structure requires multiple openings for cryocooler access, but this increases installation complexity and disturbs the magnetic circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coils and magnetic poles into a single cold mass that is enclosed together by the cryostat. This integration eliminates the need for separate cryocooler access openings, as the entire magnetic structure is cooled as one unit, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cryostat into a main enclosure for the cold mass and a separate beam chamber isolation system. This segmentation allows the cryostat to enclose only the cooled components (coils and poles) without requiring openings for cryocoolers, as the cooling system is integrated into the enclosed space.
2Temperature
If a super-insulating layer is placed between the magnetic poles and beam chamber, then the beam chamber is isolated from the cold mass, but this increases the magnetic gap and requires higher pole radius
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal isolation function from the magnetic gap by introducing a dedicated super-insulating layer at the beam chamber interface. This allows the magnetic poles to maintain their optimal size for field generation while the insulation layer provides thermal separation, preventing the need to increase pole radius due to enlarged magnetic gaps.
3Device complexity
If the poles are enclosed within the cryostat, then the magnetic structure is fully integrated, but the poles cannot be dismounted during magnetic mapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic design where the poles are mechanically attached to the cryostat cold mass but can be detached when needed. The cryostat structure includes mounting interfaces that allow poles to be securely fixed during operation for structural integration, yet removable during magnetic mapping phases, providing flexibility without compromising the integrated cooling design.
4Temperature
If multiple openings are provided in the magnetic structure for cryocooler access, then cooling is achieved, but magnetic field disturbances occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coils and poles into a single enclosed cold mass within the cryostat. This merging eliminates the need for multiple openings in the magnetic structure, as the entire magnetic assembly is cooled internally. The magnetic field stability is preserved because the integrated structure maintains magnetic circuit continuity without interruptions from access 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 design results in a more compact cyclotron with reduced magnetic field losses, enabling smaller pole radius, faster cooling, and reduced mapping time, while maintaining axial centering and minimizing misalignment issues.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic field oriented perpendicularly to said median plane, said field being generated by running an electric current through said coils
Implementation Method 2
magnetic coils which comprise a material that is superconducting below a nominal temperature
Implementation Method 3
The cold mass structure is cooled with one or more dry cryocooler units below the nominal temperature at which the magnetic coils are superconducting
Implementation Method 4
one or more electrodes configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in said median plane, under the influence of a magnetic field
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention is related to a cyclotron comprising : - an upper and lower magnet pole (5,6), symmetrically placed with respect to a median plane (3), - an upper and lower superconducting coil (1,2) arranged around each of said magnetic poles, - A ring-shaped magnetic return yoke (7), placed around said poles and said coils, so as to form a magnetic circuit, - a beam chamber (8) between said upper and lower magnetic poles, comprising one or more electrodes (9) configured to accelerate ions moving substantially in said median plane, under the influence of a magnetic field oriented perpendicularly to said median plane, said field being generated by running an electric current through said coils (1,2), - a cryostat (20), wherein said ring-shaped magnetic return yoke (7) and said coils (1,2) form a cold mass contained within said cryostat (20), and wherein said cryostat does not contain said upper and lower poles (5,6).