Integrated liquid helium loading system
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of an integrated system that effectively combines helium liquefiers, fixed liquid helium containers, and mobile liquid helium containers for efficient liquid helium loading, filling, and transfer in the refrigeration and cryogenics fields.
Innovation Solution
An integrated liquid helium loading system is developed, comprising a helium liquefier, multi-channel composite low-temperature transmission pipelines, a liquid helium distribution valve box, fixed and portable liquid helium containers, a helium pressure boosting unit, a low-temperature helium reheating unit, a gas displacement and purification unit, and a liquid helium injection and transfer control unit, enabling intelligent adjustment and control of various working modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single filling or transfer operation is performed during liquid helium loading, then the system is simple to operate, but the productivity is low because only one container can be filled or transferred at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The loading system is divided into multiple independent filling/transfer channels, each capable of operating separately. This allows simultaneous operations in different channels, increasing overall productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple functions (filling, transferring, pre-cooling, gas displacement, purification) into a unified multi-channel platform that can handle different container types (fixed containers and UN portable tanks) through the same infrastructure, improving efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity
2Productivity
If liquid helium is transferred quickly to multiple containers, then the productivity increases, but the container pressure may increase causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-cooling of containers and transmission pipelines before liquid helium filling. This preliminary action reduces the temperature difference between the incoming liquid helium and the container, minimizing pressure surges and thermal shock while enabling faster, safer filling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates pressure monitoring and control mechanisms that provide feedback during the filling and transfer processes. This allows real-time adjustment of filling rates and pressure management, ensuring high productivity while preventing dangerous pressure buildup in containers
3Manufacturing precision
If gas displacement and purification are performed thoroughly, then the purity of liquid helium increases, but the time required for the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas displacement and purification processes are designed to operate continuously throughout the liquid helium loading process rather than as separate batch operations. This continuous action maintains high purity levels while minimizing total process time, as purification occurs concurrently with filling in different channels
Solution Approach 2:
The purification system is divided into multiple stages and channels, allowing different purification methods to operate simultaneously on different portions of the helium stream. This segmented approach achieves high overall purity without requiring sequential processing of the entire volume, reducing total 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 system allows for simultaneous filling and transfer of liquid helium to multiple containers, minimizing losses and avoiding safety hazards like increased container pressure, while effectively utilizing the cold energy of low-temperature helium gas.
Implementation Method 1
a helium liquefier (1)... liquid helium generated by the helium liquefier (1)
Implementation Method 2
a low-temperature helium reheating unit (14)... can realize low-temperature return helium reheating
Implementation Method 3
a gas displacement and purification unit (15)... configured for filling and exhaust for the multi-channel composite low-temperature transmission pipeline (2)
Data Source
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AI summary
An integrated liquid helium loading system provided by the present application integrates a helium liquefier, a liquid helium distribution valve box, liquid helium containers, a helium pressure boosting unit, a low-temperature helium reheating unit, a gas displacement and purification unit, and a liquid helium filling and transfer control unit, and by cooperation with a multi-channel composite low-temperature transmission pipeline and liquid helium transmission pipelines, can realize intelligent adjustment and control of various working modes of gas displacement and purification, pre-cooling, liquid helium filling, and transfer in the loading system. It is possible to realize a process of transferring liquid helium to other multiple containers at the same time of filling liquid helium, no significant loss and waste of liquid helium can be caused, and safety hazards such as container pressure increasing during the process of transferring liquid helium can also be avoided, thereby realizing safe and effective distribution and efficient transfer of liquid helium; at the same time, low-temperature helium gas in the filling and transfer processes returns to the helium liquefier, cold energy of the low-temperature helium gas in the filling and transfer processes can be effectively utilized.