Methods for Managing Cryogen Within the Core of a Cryogenic Cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of cold heads in cryogenic cells imposes limitations on size, features, and functionality, particularly in applications requiring rapid processing of large gas volumes, such as gas separation, due to their specific dimensions and limited cryogen volume.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic cell design without a cold head, utilizing a core with ports for cryogen circulation, a mid-wall for pressure-controlled thermal communication, and a conduit within a pressurizable space, combined with cryogenic compressors to regenerate cryogen vapor into liquid form, and a controller for managing cryogen flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cold head is used to regenerate cryogen in a cryogenic cell, then the cryogen can be regenerated into liquid phase, but the size, features, and function of the cryogenic cell are limited by the cold head dimensions and limited cryogen volume
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the cold head component from the cryogenic cell system entirely. Instead of using a cold head for cryogen regeneration, the system uses a compressor to vaporize and recompress the cryogen externally. This elimination of the cold head removes the dimensional and functional limitations it imposed on the cell design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical cold head system with a compressor-based system. The compressor uses mechanical compression to achieve cryogen phase change and regeneration, substituting the thermoelectric or mechanical refrigeration mechanism of a cold head with a compression-based approach that offers greater flexibility in cell design.
2Device complexity
If a cold head with limited cryogen volume is used, then the device structure is maintained, but the rate of heat absorption and fluid processing capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the cold head and its limited internal cryogen volume constraint, the system allows for external cryogen management with potentially larger volumes. The compressor-based regeneration system can handle larger cryogen quantities and higher heat loads without being constrained by cold head dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the system by using compression ratio and pressure control instead of cold head temperature control. This allows for dynamic adjustment of cryogen regeneration rates to match higher fluid processing demands, significantly increasing productivity while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Reliability
If conventional cold heads are used in cryogenic cells, then cryogen regeneration is achieved, but the processing time for large gas volumes is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor-based system replaces the slower thermal conduction mechanism of cold heads with rapid mechanical compression. This allows for faster cryogen phase change and circulation, significantly reducing the time required to process large volumes of gas while maintaining reliable cryogen regeneration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables continuous operation of the cryogenic cell by using the compressor to rapidly and continuously regenerate cryogen. The system can maintain steady-state operation with large gas volumes because the compressor can keep up with the vaporization rate, eliminating the periodic interruptions that would occur with limited cold head capacity.
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
Enables efficient heat exchange and cryogen regeneration without cold heads, improving reliability, reducing the risk of sparks, and allowing scalable, flexible operation for various thermal loads and fluid processing volumes.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchange with the core, the pressurizable space can be cooled to a temperature at or near the temperature of the cryogen within the core. The rate of heat exchange with the core is dependent, at least in part, on the pressure within the pressurizable space.
Implementation Method 2
a space in selective, partial thermal communication with the core. The space is at least substantially airtight and is adapted to be evacuated or filled with a compressible fluid that (1) increases or decreases thermal communication with the core in accordance with a pressure of the compressible fluid within the space
Implementation Method 3
As heat exchange between the core and the pressurizable space occurs, the cryogen within the core vaporizes.
Implementation Method 4
As heat exchange between the core and the pressurizable space occurs, the cryogen within the core vaporizes. To regenerate the cryogen into liquid phase and allow the core to continue cooling the pressurizable space
Implementation Method 5
The cryogenic compressor is connected to the cryogen inlet port and the cryogen outlet port of the cryogenic cell, and is arranged and adapted to remove cryogen vapor resulting from heat exchange between the core and the space from the core through the cryogen outlet port, compress the cryogen vapor into liquid cryogen, and return the liquid cryogen to the core through the cryogen inlet port
Implementation Method 6
To prevent heat loss, the cryogenic cell also typically includes an outer sidewall, a top, and a bottom, each made of a thermally insulative material.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing the cryogen within the core of a cryogenic cell. The method includes causing or allowing a cryogen within the core of the cryogenic cell to vaporize, forming vaporized cryogen, in response to a thermal load in a pressurizable space. The pressurizable space is in at least partial thermal communication with the core according to a pressure within the pressurizable space. The vaporized cryogen is removed from the core and regenerated external to the cryogenic cell. The regenerated cryogen may be returned to the core. The regenerated cryogen may be in liquid form. A manifold may be used to manage the removal and the regeneration for several cryogenic cells. Removal, regeneration, and return of cryogen to cores may be increased or decreased in accordance with the thermal load.