Dual Helium Compressor System for Cryogenic Refrigeration Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helium compressor systems for cryogenic refrigeration lack redundancy between water cooling and air cooling, which can lead to system failures and reduced reliability, especially in critical applications like superconducting MRI magnets.
Innovation Solution
A dual compressor system is implemented, where an air-cooled oil-lubricated helium compressor is connected in parallel with a water-cooled compressor via a common manifold, allowing seamless crossover in case of failure without affecting the operation of the GM cycle expander.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single water-cooled compressor is used, then the system operates efficiently under normal conditions, but the system lacks redundancy and reliability when cooling failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual compressor system where a second compressor is pre-installed and connected to the system through check valves and manifolds, but remains inactive during normal operation. This preliminary preparation ensures that redundancy is already in place before any failure occurs, allowing immediate switchover without affecting the operation of the GM cycle expander.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of the compressors from a single active unit to a dual active configuration when failure is detected. The control system monitors the primary compressor and switches to the secondary compressor or operates both compressors simultaneously, changing the system parameters to maintain reliability under different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cooling methods are restricted to prevent contaminants from evolving, then component life is extended, but the system loses adaptability to different operating environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cooling system dynamic by providing multiple cooling methods (air-cooled and water-cooled compressors) that can be selected based on operating conditions. The system can adapt between indoor and outdoor installations, and between different seasonal requirements, while the control system dynamically switches between compressors to optimize both adaptability and component life.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual compressor system provides universal cooling capability, where each compressor can serve as a backup for the other. The air-cooled compressor can operate in outdoor conditions or during water cooling failures, while the water-cooled compressor is optimized for indoor operation. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different environments while maintaining reliable operation.
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 configuration provides redundancy and ensures continuous operation of the cryogenic refrigeration system, even if one cooling method fails, thereby enhancing the reliability and uptime of critical applications like MRI magnets.
Implementation Method 1
Air cooled compressors have been designed for operation either indoors or outdoors... all the other components are indoors with the helium always cooled by air
Implementation Method 2
the primary helium compressor is water cooled... water that is circulated by a water chiller unit at a temperature that is typically in the midrange of 10°C to 40°C
Implementation Method 3
A GM cycle refrigerator consists of a compressor that supplies gas at a discharge pressure to an inlet valve which admits gas to an expansion space through a regenerator, expands the gas adiabatically within a cold end heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
admits gas to an expansion space through a regenerator, expands the gas adiabatically within a cold end heat exchanger where it receives heat from an object being cooled, then returns the gas at low pressure to the compressor through the regenerator
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to oil lubricated helium compressor units for use in cryogenic refrigeration systems, operating on the Gifford McMahon (GM) or Brayton cycle. The objective of this invention is to provide redundancy by having a water cooled compressor manifolded to an air cooled compressor and sensors to detect faults so that an expander can be kept running if there is a failure in either the water or air supply.