2-Field NMR Magnet System With Vacuum-Insulated Auxiliary Coil

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current 2-field NMR spectrometer magnet systems face limitations in flexibility, signal strength, and cost-effectiveness, with restricted field strength adjustment in the second sample volume and increased helium losses leading to quenching risks.

Innovation Solution

A magnet system design featuring a cooled auxiliary coil case surrounded by a vacuum, with a flange connection allowing the additional field magnet to protrude into the cryostat's room temperature casing, enabling independent adjustment of the second magnetic field and minimizing thermal coupling with the main field magnet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If ferromagnetic shims are arranged in the room temperature bore to generate the second magnetic field, then the second magnetic field can be generated, but the field strength is limited to approximately 0.5 Tesla or less and the installation space is considerably restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield strength adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidinstallation space restriction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnet system is divided into two independent magnetic field generation systems: a main superconducting magnet for the first magnetic field and a separate additional field magnet (with its own coil container) for the second magnetic field. This segmentation allows each magnet to be optimized independently, enabling flexible field strength adjustment in the second sample volume without restricting the main magnet's installation space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediate coil container is introduced to house the additional field magnet. This intermediary structure allows the additional field magnet to be positioned and cooled independently while maintaining thermal decoupling from the main magnet system, thereby achieving flexible field strength adjustment without compromising the main magnet's installation space or thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the additional field magnet is arranged in a common helium container with the main field magnet, then the field strength can be freely adjusted, but this leads to increased helium losses and quenching risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield strength adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidquenching risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into two independent cryogenic systems: the main field magnet with its own helium container and the additional field magnet with its separate coil container and cooling system. This segmentation isolates thermal disturbances, so that field sweeping in the additional magnet does not cause significant heat input to the main magnet's helium container, thereby preventing quenching while maintaining flexible field strength adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separate coil container acts as an intermediary that thermally decouples the additional field magnet from the main field magnet's cryogenic system. This intermediary structure allows independent cooling and field adjustment without transferring heat to the main magnet's helium container, thus eliminating quenching risks while preserving field strength flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a separate DNP device is designed and connected via a transfer line, then a standard NMR system can be used, but the path between sample volumes is quite long causing significant polarization losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with standard NMR systemVSAvoidpolarization loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The additional field magnet and main field magnet are merged into a single integrated magnet system with a common room temperature bore and closely spaced sample volumes. This integration eliminates the need for external transfer lines while maintaining compatibility with standard NMR systems, thereby minimizing the distance between sample volumes and reducing polarization losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated magnet system serves multiple functions: it maintains compatibility with standard NMR systems while providing enhanced 2-field NMR capabilities. The common room temperature bore and closely positioned sample volumes enable both standard and advanced experiments without requiring separate devices or long transfer paths, thus preserving polarization while maintaining system versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design allows for flexible 2-field NMR spectroscopy with enhanced signal strength and cost-effectiveness by enabling adjustable second magnetic fields without increasing the risk of quenching, while maintaining vacuum insulation and thermal decoupling between the main and additional field magnets.

Implementation Method 1

a superconducting main field magnet suitable for generating a first magnetic field in a first sample volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperconductivity: Superconductivity

Implementation Method 2

a superconducting additional field magnet suitable for generating a second magnetic field in a second sample volume

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperconductivity: Superconductivity

Implementation Method 3

with an evacuated room temperature (=RT) envelope containing the main coil case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4006567B1Magnet system for carrying out 2-field nmr experiments and corresponding retrofitting method
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 BRUKER SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP4006567B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4006567B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4006567B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a magnet system (1) for 2-field NMR experiments, comprising: - a superconducting main field magnet (7) for generating a first magnetic field in a first sample volume (16), - a superconducting auxiliary field magnet (22) for generating a second magnetic field in a second sample volume (24), and - a cryostat (2) with a cooled main coil container (6), with an evacuated room temperature (RT) casing (4), and with a room temperature (RT) bore (14) passing through the main field magnet (7) and through the auxiliary field magnet (22), characterized in that the magnet system (1) comprises a cooled auxiliary coil container (21) in a vacuum (23), that the RT casing (4) has a flange connection (17) with a flange opening (19) through which the RT bore (14) passes, and that the auxiliary coil container (21) is equipped with a the front end protrudes through the flange opening (19) into the RT casing (4),so that the additional field magnet (22) also protrudes at least partially through the flange opening (19) into the RT casing (4), and that a sealing structure (20) is mounted on the flange connection (17), which seals the RT casing (4) between the flange connection (17) and the RT bore (14). This enables cost-effective and flexible 2-field NMR spectroscopy with good signal strength.