Removable Sample Sleeve for Rapid De-Icing in DNP Cooling Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) systems face downtime and increased operating costs due to icing issues, which require warming the entire system to remove ice, disrupting sample cooling for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A removable sample sleeve within the DNP system isolates ice formation and includes a thermal switch for localized de-icing, allowing for rapid ice removal without heating the entire system, thus minimizing downtime and maintaining continuous sample cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire DNP system is warmed to remove ice, then ice is removed from the system, but system downtime increases and operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a removable sample sleeve that can be separated from the main DNP system. This segmentation allows ice to be contained within the removable sample sleeve, enabling selective removal of only the iced portion rather than warming the entire system, thus resolving the contradiction between removing ice and minimizing system downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The removable sample sleeve containing ice is extracted from the main DNP system. By taking out the iced component rather than removing ice from the entire system, the patent enables targeted de-icing that minimizes downtime and operating costs while still effectively removing the harmful ice formation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire DNP system is warmed to remove ice, then ice is removed from the system, but operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a removable sample sleeve and main system, allowing energy to be applied only to the small portion containing ice rather than the entire DNP system, thus resolving the contradiction between removing ice and minimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying warming action to the entire system, only partial action is applied to the removable sample sleeve containing ice. This partial de-icing approach effectively removes the harmful ice while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to whole-system warming
3Loss of time
If a removable sample sleeve is used to isolate ice formation, then de-icing time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sample sleeve is designed as a removable, segmented component that can be easily separated from the main system. This segmentation enables rapid removal of the iced portion without complex de-icing mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between reducing de-icing time and maintaining simple system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The sample sleeve transitions from a static component to a dynamic, removable component. This dynamic design allows the sleeve to be quickly extracted when ice forms, achieving rapid de-icing while adding minimal complexity since the removability is built into the basic design
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 limits ice formation to a specific area, enables rapid de-icing within hours, and resumes sample cooling quickly, reducing system downtime and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The removable sample sleeve includes a thermal switch configured to warm the lower portion
Implementation Method 2
DNP systems may include liquid cryogen (e.g., liquid helium) baths used to cool samples to very low temperatures, sometimes below four Kelvin
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system is provided. The cooling system is associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system and configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system. The cooling system includes a cryogenic chamber that includes a cryogenic fluid. The cooling system also includes a removable sample sleeve insertable within a portion of the cryogenic chamber. The removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system.