Synchrocyclotron RF Rotor Emissivity Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing RF systems in synchrocyclotrons face challenges with rotor heating due to eddy currents and RF currents, leading to geometric deformations and premature aging, which complicates cooling and increases costs as RF power and rotation speed increase.

Innovation Solution

The RF system incorporates a rotor with an exterior surface having a normal total emissivity of 0.5 to 1, allowing for enhanced heat radiation transfer to the conducting enclosure, eliminating the need for forced fluid convection cooling and simplifying the system while maintaining effective heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If water cooling with flexible pipes is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor temperatureVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cooling function from the rotor surface by applying a high-emissivity coating that enables radiative cooling directly at the heat source, eliminating the need for complex water cooling pipes and associated systems. This removes the disturbing cooling infrastructure while preserving the temperature control function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical water cooling system with a thermal radiation-based cooling mechanism. By coating the rotor surface with material having emissivity ≥0.5, the system uses electromagnetic radiation (infrared) for heat transfer instead of fluid convection, thereby eliminating mechanical cooling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If air and water cooling with blowers and evacuation systems is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity, cost, and reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor temperatureVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes air blowers, evacuation systems, and associated complex infrastructure by enabling the rotor to cool itself through radiative heat transfer to its surroundings. The cooling function is extracted from external active systems and embedded in the rotor surface coating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor becomes self-cooling through the high-emissivity coating applied to its surface. The coating enables the rotor to efficiently radiate its own heat to the environment without requiring external cooling systems, making the system self-sufficient for thermal management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If magnetic screens are added to limit eddy currents, then harmful eddy current effects are reduced, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeddy current heatingVSAvoidcapacitor structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the need for magnetic screens by addressing the root cause of eddy current heating through the high-emissivity coating. The coating reduces overall thermal buildup, thereby reducing the severity of eddy current effects without requiring additional magnetic shielding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration provides efficient cooling of the rotor at high speeds, simplifies the system, and reduces costs by eliminating complex cooling systems, while maintaining comparable heat dissipation properties.

Implementation Method 1

at least one part of an exterior surface of the rotor facing an interior surface of the conducting enclosure possesses a normal total emissivity of greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2781142B1RF system for synchrocyclotron
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 ION BEAM APPL
  • EP2781142B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2781142B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP2781142B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The present invention relates to an RF system (1) able to generate a voltage for accelerating charged particles in a synchrocyclotron, the RF system (1) including a resonant cavity (2) comprising a conducting enclosure (5) within which are placed a conducting pillar (3) of which a first end is linked to an accelerating electrode (4) able to accelerate the charged particles, a rotary variable capacitor (10) coupled between a second end opposite from the first end of the pillar (3) and the conducting enclosure (5), the said capacitor (10) comprising fixed electrodes (11) and a rotor (13) comprising mobile electrodes (12), the fixed electrodes (11) and the mobile electrodes (12) forming a variable capacitance able to vary a resonant frequency of the resonant cavity (2) in a cyclic manner over time, an exterior layer of the rotor (13) having a conductivity of greater than 20.000.000 S/m at 300 K. At least one part of the exterior surface (15) of the rotor (13) is a surface possessing a normal total emissivity of greater than 0.5 and less than 1, thereby allowing better cooling of the rotor and/or making it possible to dispense with a system for cooling the rotor by conduction and/or by convection.