Superconducting Magnet Ramp-Down Using Mechanical Energy Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of dry superconducting magnets in magnetic resonance devices reduces thermal capacity, increasing susceptibility to unintended ramp-downs during power failures, leading to prolonged cool-down times and increased heating of the cold mass, which affects device availability and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A magnet arrangement with a conversion unit that converts electrical energy stored in the superconducting magnet into mechanical energy, using an electro-mechanical storage device to store and re-use this energy, reducing heat generation during ramp-downs and facilitating efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If dry magnets are used to reduce cryogenic fluid volume, then operating costs are reduced, but thermal capacity decreases leading to increased susceptibility to unintended ramp-downs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal buffer system with high thermal mass materials positioned between the superconducting magnet and the external environment. This buffer acts as a thermal cushion that absorbs heat influx during power failures or disturbances, preventing rapid temperature rises that would cause unintended ramp-downs. The buffer maintains magnet temperature stability even when cryogenic fluid volume is minimized.
2Loss of energy
If cryogenic fluid volume is decreased, then cost is reduced, but cool-down time increases significantly after ramp-down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pre-cooling system that actively cools the thermal buffer and surrounding structures before the magnet is ramped down. This preliminary cooling action stores cold thermal energy in the buffer system, which then rapidly absorbs heat during the ramp-down phase, significantly reducing the cool-down time required to restore operational temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal buffer serves as an intermediary thermal storage system between the superconducting magnet and the external environment. It mediates heat transfer by absorbing excess heat during operation and releasing stored cold energy during ramp-down, enabling faster temperature recovery without requiring large volumes of cryogenic fluid.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional diode and heat sink arrangement is used for energy dissipation, then electrical energy can be converted to heat, but the arrangement becomes large and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the energy dissipation system by replacing the conventional diode-heat sink architecture with a regenerative energy storage system. Instead of converting electrical energy directly to heat that must be dissipated, the system captures the electrical energy and stores it in electro-mechanical form, fundamentally altering the energy transformation parameters and eliminating the need for large heat dissipation components.
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 prevents heating of the cold mass by converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, allowing for faster ramp-downs and efficient energy re-use, thereby minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A conversion unit is provided which is configured to convert electrical energy which has been accumulated in the superconducting magnet into mechanical energy
Implementation Method 2
superconducting magnets for magnetic resonance devices has been rising for years
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a magnet arrangement (11) for a magnetic resonance device (10), comprising a superconducting magnet (12; 29), a conversion unit (30), and a switch (31), wherein the switch (31) is configured to interrupt a closed-circuit current in the superconducting magnet (12; 29) and divert electrical energy accumulated in the superconducting magnet (12; 29) to the conversion unit (30), and wherein the conversion unit (30) is configured to convert the electrical energy accumulated in the superconducting magnet (12; 29) to mechanical energy and to store the mechanical energy for a predetermined period of time. The invention further relates to a magnetic resonance device (10) comprising an inventive magnet arrangement (11).