Recuperative Cold Trap Design for Extended Refrigerator Operating Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Closed-cycle refrigerators face issues with impurities diffusing into the system, leading to condensation or freezing in the condensing line, which can block the system, and existing cold traps have limitations in trapping efficiency and longevity due to saturation and thermal load challenges.
Innovation Solution
A recuperative cold trap or trapping stage is designed with a double-walled tube configuration, allowing for heat exchange between incoming and outgoing fluid flows, minimizing thermal load and extending system operation by using multiple trapping stages in series, and enabling efficient impurity trapping through thermal compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cold trap is used to trap impurities, then impurity trapping is achieved, but thermal load increases and operating time is limited due to saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The cold trap is divided into multiple segments or sections with different thermal characteristics. The first section is thermally coupled to the cold stage for active impurity trapping, while the second section remains at intermediate temperature to reduce thermal load and delay saturation, thereby extending operating time while maintaining trapping efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter distribution along the cold trap by introducing thermal coupling to a cold stage. This creates a temperature gradient where different sections operate at different temperatures, optimizing both impurity trapping in the cold section and thermal load management in the warmer section, thus extending operational duration
2Reliability
If a cold trap is thermally coupled to a cold stage, then impurity trapping efficiency increases, but thermal load on the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the cold trap are assigned different thermal qualities: the first section is thermally coupled to the cold stage to provide strong impurity trapping capability, while the second section maintains intermediate temperature to minimize thermal load. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve high trapping efficiency in the critical zone without proportionally increasing overall thermal load
3Reliability
If the cold trap is cleaned or replaced, then trapping efficiency is restored, but system circulation must be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The cold trap is designed with detachable or movable sections that allow dynamic access for cleaning or replacement. The first section can be independently accessed or removed while the second section remains in place, enabling maintenance operations without interrupting the overall system circulation and maintaining continuous productivity
4Use of energy by moving object
If a double-walled tube configuration is used with thermal coupling, then thermal load is minimized through heat exchange, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold trap employs a double-walled tube configuration where one tube is nested within another. The first section is positioned in the inner tube thermally coupled to the cold stage, while the second section occupies the outer tube at intermediate temperature. This nested structure enables internal heat exchange to minimize thermal load while maintaining a relatively compact and manageable device architecture
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 solution effectively increases the operating time of the refrigeration system by minimizing thermal load and impurity breakthrough, allowing for continuous operation without interrupting circulation for trap replacement or cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between incoming and outgoing fluid flows
Implementation Method 2
at least a part of the first portion of the at least one recuperative trapping stage is thermally coupled, or at least configured to be thermally coupleable, to the at least one cold stage
Implementation Method 3
at least one cooler having at least one cold stage
Implementation Method 4
These impurities may condensate or freeze somewhere in the system
Implementation Method 5
These impurities may condensate or freeze somewhere in the system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a recuperative trapping stage (3) for a refrigerator or refrigerator system. The recuperative trapping stage (3) comprises at least one first portion and at least one second portion configured for conveying fluids, wherein the first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion and wherein at least one part of the second portion is arranged within the first portion. Further the present invention relates to a refrigerator with at least one recuperative trapping stage (3) according to the present invention and with at least one cooler (1), the cooler (1) having at least one cold stage, wherein at least a part or section of the first portion of the at least one recuperative trapping stage (3) is thermally coupled, or at least configured to be thermally coupleable, to the at least one cold stage. Finally the present invention relates to a method of cleaning at least one recuperative trapping stage (3) in a refrigerator according to the present invention.