Dual-Purpose Displacer for Cryogen Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting magnets face challenges in managing liquid cryogen levels due to evaporation, particularly during shipment and operational use, leading to increased costs and time for refilling, as existing methods like dummy displacers and cryostats with excised spaces do not effectively address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A dual-purpose displacer system within the cryostat that includes a displacer wall with an exterior and interior surface, where the interior surface contains a displacing chamber to store a portion of liquid cryogen, which can be transferred to the cryogenic chamber to adjust the cryogen level, reducing the need for additional cryogen and minimizing evaporation losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cryogen is filled in the cryostat to cool the magnet, then the magnet can operate at required low temperatures, but the liquid cryogen is lost due to evaporation during normal operations and shipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-filling the displacer chamber with liquid cryogen at the manufacturing facility before shipment. This stored cryogen serves as a reserve that can be transferred to the cryogenic chamber later, eliminating the need to ship large amounts of cryogen and reducing evaporation losses during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cryogen storage into two separate chambers: a displacer chamber for storing reserve cryogen and a cryogenic chamber for active cooling. This segmentation allows the system to separate the storage function from the active cooling function, enabling cryogen to be stored without being subject to evaporation losses in the active chamber during shipment.
2Quantity of substance
If a dummy displacer is used to reduce liquid cryogen volume, then the amount of cryogen needed is reduced, but it does not address cryogen loss due to evaporation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by designing the displacer to serve dual purposes: it acts as a volume displacer to reduce the amount of cryogen needed in the cryogenic chamber, and simultaneously serves as a storage chamber for reserve cryogen. This eliminates the need for separate dummy displacers and provides a solution that addresses both volume reduction and evaporation loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements cryogen recovery by capturing evaporated cryogen in the displacer chamber and transferring it back to the cryogenic chamber when needed. This recovery mechanism prevents permanent loss of cryogen and allows the system to maintain operation without frequent refilling.
3Quantity of substance
If excised spaces are incorporated in the cryostat design to reduce cryogen amount, then less cryogen is needed, but the approach does not solve the problem of cryogen loss during shipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-filling the displacer chamber with liquid cryogen at the manufacturing facility before shipment. This stored cryogen serves as a reserve that can be transferred to the cryogenic chamber later, eliminating the need to ship large amounts of cryogen and reducing evaporation losses during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacer chamber acts as an intermediary storage reservoir between the manufacturing facility and the operational site. It temporarily holds cryogen in a stable, non-evaporating environment during shipment, then transfers it to the active cryogenic chamber when needed, mediating the transition and preventing loss.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If additional liquid cryogen is added to compensate for losses during shipment, then the magnet can continue operation, but it adds extra time and cost to the installation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-filling the displacer chamber with liquid cryogen at the manufacturing facility before shipment. This stored cryogen serves as a reserve that can be transferred to the cryogenic chamber later, eliminating the need to ship large amounts of cryogen and reducing evaporation losses during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically managing cryogen levels through the transfer mechanism from the displacer chamber to the cryogenic chamber. When the cryogenic chamber level drops, the system can transfer cryogen from the displacer chamber without requiring external intervention or manual refilling, reducing installation and maintenance time.
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 dual-purpose displacer system efficiently manages liquid cryogen levels, reducing the amount needed to operate the magnet, minimizing evaporation losses, and enabling faster, more economical installation by allowing for on-site filling and extended cooling periods without requiring additional cryogen during shipment and operation.
Implementation Method 1
The exterior displacer surface is configured to displace a second portion of liquid cryogen contained in a cryogenic chamber of the cryostat
Data Source
AI summary
A dual-purpose displacer for adjusting a liquid cryogen level in a cryostat, the dual-purpose displacer includes a displacer wall having an exterior displacer surface and an interior displacer surface. The interior displacer surface defines a displacing chamber configured to contain a first portion of liquid cryogen. The exterior displacer surface is configured to displace a second portion of liquid cryogen contained in a cryogenic chamber of the cryostat. The dual-purpose displacer is disposed within the cryogenic chamber of the cryostat and configured to transfer the first portion of liquid cryogen contained within the displacing chamber to the cryogenic chamber.