Modular cryogenic cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryogenic cooling systems face challenges in scaling up to provide large payload volumes and footprints while maintaining flexibility, ease of operation, maintenance, and adaptation to varying cooling needs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed cryogenic cooling system features a modular design with a vacuum chamber, independent support systems for cold plates and heat radiation shields, and dedicated cold sources for each component, allowing for flexible configuration and easy access for servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional cryogenic cooling systems are scaled up to provide larger payload volumes, then the cooling capacity and payload volume are improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cryogenic cooling system is divided into multiple modular units, each comprising a vacuum chamber, cold plates, and radiation shields. These modules can be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained, thereby providing large total payload volume while keeping individual module complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs nested radiation shields within vacuum chambers, with cold plates positioned within the shields. This nested configuration maximizes the use of space within each module, enabling larger effective payload volume without proportionally increasing external dimensions or structural complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional cryogenic cooling systems are scaled up to provide larger payload volumes, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the ease of operation and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the system into standardized modules with uniform interfaces, maintenance personnel can service individual modules independently without affecting the entire system. This modular approach maintains ease of operation even as total system size increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design creates universal components that can be interchanged between different system configurations. Each module serves multiple functions (vacuum containment, thermal shielding, cold plate support), reducing the number of specialized parts that need to be maintained and simplified operational procedures.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional cryogenic cooling systems are scaled up to provide larger payload volumes, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the adaptability to varying cooling needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The modular architecture allows individual modules to be configured with different numbers and types of cold plates (e.g., dilution refrigerators, mechanical pre-coolers) according to specific cooling requirements. Modules can be added, removed, or reconfigured without affecting other parts of the system, maintaining high adaptability at large scale.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic reconfiguration of cooling capacity by selectively activating or deactivating specific modules or cold plates within modules. This allows the cooling system to adapt to varying thermal loads and experimental requirements while maintaining large overall payload volume capability.
4Ease of repair
If modular design is implemented with independent support systems for cold plates and radiation shields, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support systems for cold plates and radiation shields are independently designed and mounted within each vacuum chamber module. This segmentation allows each support system to be serviced separately, improving maintenance ease while the standardized modular structure keeps overall structural complexity manageable.
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 solution enables the creation of large, flexible cryogenic cooling systems that can reach millikelvin temperatures, facilitate easy maintenance, and adapt to changing cooling requirements, while maintaining operational reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Each of said heat radiation shields is configured to shield a respective sub-space adjacent to a corresponding one of said cold plates
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A cryogenic cooling system comprises a vacuum chamber, a first support system for cold plates in said vacuum chamber, and a second support system for heat radiation shields in said vacuum chamber. Coupled to said first support system and supported thereby are a plurality of mutually parallel cold plates displaced from each other in a first direction. Said first direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to said cold plates. Coupled to said second support system and supported thereby are a plurality of at least partially nested heat radiation shields. Each of said heat radiation shields is configured to shield a respective sub-space adjacent to a corresponding one of said cold plates. At least a first cold plate of said cold plates is a modular cold plate comprising two or more sections adjacent to each other on the same level in said first direction, said sections being coupled to said first support system independently of each other.