Superconducting Magnet Refrigerant Storage Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In thermo-siphon superconducting magnet apparatuses, transient heat generation during excitation or demagnetization causes a decrease in refrigerant level, leading to increased temperature of the superconducting coil and potential loss of the superconducting state, necessitating a higher refrigerant amount to prevent this.

Innovation Solution

A superconducting magnet apparatus with a refrigerant circulation circuit featuring a cooling pipe path, an upper pipe path, a lower pipe path, and a connection pipe path, where the cooling pipe path includes a storage portion to maintain refrigerant levels during excitation or demagnetization, allowing for efficient heat management and reduced refrigerant usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the amount of refrigerant sealed in the refrigerant circulation circuit is increased to maintain refrigerant level during excitation or demagnetization, then the loss of superconducting state is suppressed, but the refrigerant usage amount increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuperconducting state stabilityVSAvoidrefrigerant usage amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant circulation circuit is segmented into multiple functional sections: a storage section (expansion tank) separated from the cooling section (cooling pipe). This segmentation allows the storage section to hold excess refrigerant while the cooling section maintains proper refrigerant levels during transient operations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and refrigerant quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The storage section is pre-filled with refrigerant before operation begins. During normal operation, this pre-stored refrigerant acts as a buffer that can quickly replenish the cooling section when transient heat generation occurs during excitation or demagnetization, preventing refrigerant level drop without requiring excessive refrigerant in the entire system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a protective resistor is thermally coupled to the superconducting coil for protection during current excitation or interruption, then the superconducting coil is protected from transient heat, but the refrigerant level in the cooling circuit decreases due to heat generation in the protective resistor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuperconducting coil protectionVSAvoidrefrigerant level

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into a protective resistor section and a cooling pipe section, with the storage section acting as a buffer between them. The protective resistor can generate heat without directly affecting the cooling pipe's refrigerant level, as the storage section absorbs the thermal impact and maintains refrigerant supply to the cooling section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The storage section serves as an intermediary between the protective resistor and the cooling pipe. It absorbs transient heat effects from the protective resistor during excitation or demagnetization and maintains stable refrigerant levels in the cooling pipe, preventing direct thermal coupling from causing refrigerant level drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 apparatus effectively suppresses the loss of the superconducting state during excitation or demagnetization while using a smaller amount of refrigerant compared to conventional systems, maintaining the superconducting state and preventing quench occurrences.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling pipe path (11a to 11d) in thermal contact with the plurality of superconducting coils (1a to 1d)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a refrigerant circulation circuit (10) through which refrigerant circulates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermo-siphon effect: Thermosyphon

Implementation Method 3

The cooling pipe path includes a storage portion where refrigerant is stored

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational settling: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11250977B2Superconducting magnet apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 CANON MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A superconducting magnet apparatus includes a first superconducting coil centered around an axis extending in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction and a refrigerant circulation circuit through which refrigerant circulates. The refrigerant circulation circuit includes a first cooling pipe path in thermal contact with the first superconducting coil, an upper pipe path arranged above the first cooling pipe path, a lower pipe path arranged below the first cooling pipe path, and a connection pipe path that connects the upper pipe path and the lower pipe path to each other. The first cooling pipe path includes a first storage portion where refrigerant is stored.