Cooling system and cooling method
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of mechanical elements in low-temperature environments is low, which can lead to reduced cooling performance if issues occur.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a flow generator located outside the low-temperature chamber, using a general-purpose flow generator that operates within a guaranteed temperature range, and a coolant circuit with heat exchangers to heat and cool the fluid before circulation, ensuring the fluid is at a reliable operating temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical elements are placed inside the low-temperature chamber to cool the superconducting device, then the cooling performance can be maintained, but the reliability of the system decreases due to the poor reliability of mechanical elements in low-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The flow generator is extracted from the low-temperature chamber and placed in the ambient temperature environment. This separates the mechanical component that requires reliable operation from the cryogenic environment where mechanical reliability deteriorates, while the coolant still performs its cooling function effectively through the heat exchangers positioned inside the chamber.
2Reliability
If a general-purpose flow generator operating at guaranteed temperature is used outside the low-temperature chamber, then the reliability is improved, but additional heating and cooling systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant is pre-cooled in the ambient temperature environment before entering the low-temperature chamber, and pre-heated after leaving the chamber before returning to the flow generator. This preliminary thermal conditioning ensures the coolant is at the appropriate temperature for each stage of the cycle, enabling the flow generator to operate reliably without being exposed to extreme cold.
Solution Approach 2:
Heat exchangers serve as intermediary devices that transfer thermal energy between the coolant and the ambient environment. These intermediaries enable thermal conditioning of the coolant without requiring the flow generator to directly interact with the low-temperature chamber, thus protecting the mechanical component while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
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 approach enhances the reliability of the cooling system by preventing mechanical failures in low-temperature environments and maintaining efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger for cooling the fluid flowing in the first part toward the coolant outlet
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger for heating the fluid flowing in the second part
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A flow generator 18 for producing a flow in a coolant line 24 is provided outside of a low-temperature chamber 16 of a cooling system 10. A low-temperature fluid flowing through the superconducting device 12 is heated to a guaranteed operating temperature range of the flow generator 18 by using a heating device 28. The heated low-temperature fluid is circulated by using the flow generator 18. The low-temperature fluid is cooled to supply to the superconducting device 12. The heating device 28 is accommodated in the low-temperature chamber 16.