EP0160840A2 - Phase separator for helium II - Google Patents

Phase separator for helium II Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0160840A2
EP0160840A2 EP85104020A EP85104020A EP0160840A2 EP 0160840 A2 EP0160840 A2 EP 0160840A2 EP 85104020 A EP85104020 A EP 85104020A EP 85104020 A EP85104020 A EP 85104020A EP 0160840 A2 EP0160840 A2 EP 0160840A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
phase separator
helium
separator according
passage channels
shaped
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP85104020A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0160840A3 (en
EP0160840B1 (en
Inventor
Albert Dipl.-Ing. Seidel
Hartmut Ing.-Grad. Neuking
Ernst Blenninger
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Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm AG
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C13/00—Details of vessels or of the filling or discharging of vessels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2203/00—Vessel construction, in particular walls or details thereof
    • F17C2203/06—Materials for walls or layers thereof; Properties or structures of walls or their materials
    • F17C2203/0602—Wall structures; Special features thereof
    • F17C2203/0612—Wall structures
    • F17C2203/0626—Multiple walls
    • F17C2203/0629—Two walls
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2221/00—Handled fluid, in particular type of fluid
    • F17C2221/01—Pure fluids
    • F17C2221/016—Noble gases (Ar, Kr, Xe)
    • F17C2221/017—Helium
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2223/00—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel
    • F17C2223/01—Handled fluid before transfer, i.e. state of fluid when stored in the vessel or before transfer from the vessel characterised by the phase
    • F17C2223/0146—Two-phase
    • F17C2223/0153—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
    • F17C2223/0161—Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
    • F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
    • F17C2265/00—Effects achieved by gas storage or gas handling
    • F17C2265/01—Purifying the fluid
    • F17C2265/015—Purifying the fluid by separating

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a helium-II phase separator with slot-shaped passage channels for utilizing the thermomechanical effect.
  • thermomechanical effect is used to separate superfluid helium (HeII) from the gas phase.
  • HeII superfluid helium
  • the liquid cannot pass through the capillary system due to the thermomechanical effect if the boundary conditions are selected, since the associated force is opposite to the temperature gradient, i.e. from the outlet side to the liquid bath , is directed.
  • This is the basis of the applicability of such a system as a phase separator for helium-II.
  • the lower temperature on the outlet side is achieved by lowering the pressure, for example by pumping, which leads to cooling by the evaporation of liquid.
  • a throttle valve is sufficient inthe exhaust gas line through which flows the helium gas in the space (vacuum).
  • a known capillary system which is suitable for producing the thermomechanical effect, consists essentially of a plug made of tightly wound aluminum foil with a spiral passage opening, which is inserted into a holder made of a good heat-conducting material and connected to the exhaust system.
  • the winding process does not, strictly speaking, result in only one passage opening, but rather a multiplicity of irregular, gap-like passage openings lying side by side in a spiral.
  • the winding tension must be set so that the largest passage opening has a maximum gap thickness of approx. 10 ⁇ m, since otherwise the thermomechanical effect would not occur and liquid helium would escape. Passage openings of this type cannot be produced reproducibly, so that a large number of such plugs must always be produced and tested for usability in an experiment.
  • thermomechanical effect is effective even in narrow annular gaps, the gap width is about 10 microns or less.
  • the thermomechanical effect is used exclusively for phase separation, the helium throughput through a narrow annular gap is comparatively low. That would e.g. in the case of a helium throughput of approx. 45 mg / sec typical for space experiments, require an annular gap with a diameter of approx. 0.8 m and a gap width of approx. 10 ⁇ m.
  • Such ring gaps are, however, difficult to manufacture and unsuitable for use in spacecraft.
  • the phase separator shown in FIG. 1 essentially has a tank flange 1 for attachment within a helium-II filled tank of a cyrostat.
  • a cylindrical extension 1.1 of the tank flange 1 is a stack of the same square washers 2, each with be in between sensitive spacers 3 arranged.
  • This stack is sealed at the end projecting into the tank with a cover plate 4 and is fastened together with this cover plate by means of tie rods 5 to the flange 1 under elastic prestress.
  • tie rods 5 In the interior of the cavity created by the ring disk stack and the cover disk 4 (see FIG.
  • a displacement body 6 connected to the cover disk 4 is fastened, which exposes a pot-shaped gap 7 between itself and the inner edge of each ring disk and to the flange 1.
  • This cup-shaped gap 7 is connected to an exhaust pipe 8 guided through the flange 1, which is wound around the cylindrical extension 1.1 of the flange 1 and the ring disk stack and is thus designed as a heat exchanger until it ends in a central outlet 1.2 of the flange 1.
  • the gap between the discs 2 is approximately 10 microns; it can be between 5 and 15 ⁇ m, this distance being increased by about 200 times for the graphic representation.
  • the surface quality of the ring disks 2 is particularly high; the surface ripple should be ⁇ 1 ⁇ m.
  • each passage channel is the same and dimensioned so that the thermomechanical effect occurs under suitable boundary conditions, due to which superfluid helium (Helium-II) is prevented from passing through the gap-shaped channels. Therefore, only gaseous helium flows in the pot-shaped collecting gap 7 and is drawn off via the exhaust line 8. The residual cold still present in the helium gas is utilized via the exhaust gas line 8, which is designed as a heat exchanger.
  • the helium-II phase separator shown in Fig. 3 consists of a cylindrical hollow body 9 which, similar to the stacked ring washers of the phase separator according to FIG. 1, is attached to a flange, not shown, with a central exhaust pipe.
  • the hollow body 9 has, on its outer circumference, wedge-shaped grooves 10 in the direction of the cylinder longitudinal axis, which are connected to the interior 11 via bores 12 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
  • In the center of the wedge-shaped grooves 10 are wedge-shaped strips 13 which, due to inserted spacers 14, each produce two opposite rows of the same gap-shaped passage channels 15 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6).
  • the cavity 11, similar to that in FIG. 1, is closed in a gas-tight manner on the side facing away from the flange, to which, as in FIG. 1, a cylindrical displacement body can be fastened to produce a pot-shaped collecting gap.
  • the thickness of the spacers 14 and their spacing and the gap geometries generated thereby correspond to those of the phase separator according to FIG. 1.
  • the flow in these passage channels is thus also purely two-dimensional.
  • the wedge-shaped grooves and strips have the advantage that the gap thickness can be adjusted by moving the strips in the wedge direction.
  • FIG. 7 schematically shows the installation of a phase separator 16 according to FIG. 1 or 3 in the tank 17 of a cyrostat filled with helium-11.
  • the discharged gaseous helium (GHe) is used to cool the radiation shields 18 of the cyrostat until it is fed via a control valve 19 to a vacuum pump or into the vacuum of space.
  • the regulation of the helium mass flow rate is carried out by changing the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the through channels in such a way that the thermomechanical effect is always maintained at the specified bath temperatures.
  • the control valve 19 located outside the helium-II cyrostat is used, which is controlled by a motor 21 via a controller 20.
  • the controller 20 uses the helium II bath temperature (T) as the measurement signal.
  • T helium II bath temperature
  • This bath temperature must be regulated very sensitively, especially in space experiments. If the helium-II bath temperature has a rising tendency, the control valve 19 opens and the pressure difference which then arises in the gap-shaped passage channels of the phase separator 16 becomes larger. Due to the increasing pressure difference, the helium throughput also increases, causing the bath to cool down again. This in turn results in the reverse of the procedure just described.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Degasification And Air Bubble Elimination (AREA)

Abstract

Der reproduzierbar herzustellende Helium-II-Phasentrenner basiert auf der Ausnutzung des thermomechanischen Effektes und besteht aus mehreren, nebeneinander gelegenen spaltförmigen Durchlaßkanälen gleicher Spaltdicke, welche in den Wandungen eines in flüssiges Helium hineinragenden Hohlraumes angeordnet sind, aus dessen Innenraum gasförmiges Helium abführbar ist.The helium-II phase separator that can be produced reproducibly is based on the utilization of the thermomechanical effect and consists of several, side-by-side gap-shaped passage channels of the same gap thickness, which are arranged in the walls of a cavity protruding into liquid helium, from the interior of which gaseous helium can be removed.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner mit spaltförmigen Durchlaßkanälen zur Ausnutzung des thermomechanischen Effektes.The invention relates to a helium-II phase separator with slot-shaped passage channels for utilizing the thermomechanical effect.

Eine Einrichtung zur Phasentrennung von Helium-II, insbesondere im schwerelosen Zustand, ist u.a. von H.D. Denner et al, Freie Universität Berlin, im Forschungsbericht W-79-47, Dezember 1979, beschrieben. Zur Trennung von superfluidem Helium (HeII) von der Gasphase wird dabei der thermomechanische Effekt (Fontäneneffekt) ausgenutzt. Dieser Effekt äußert sich bei zwei durch ein Kapillarsystem verbundenen Flüssigkeitsbehältern durch Ansteigen des Niveaus auf der wärmeren Seite. Dieser Effekt ist auch wirksam, wenn sich auf der einen Seite des Kapillarsystems Heliumgas befindet. Ist die Temperatur des Flüssigkeitsbades größer als die Temperatur des Kapillarsystems auf der Seite der Gasphase, so kann die Flüssigkeit bei geeigneter Wahl der Randbedingungen aufgrund des thermomechanischen Effektes das Kapillarsystem nicht passieren, da die zugehörige Kraft entgegengesetzt zum Temperaturgefälle, also von der Austrittssseite zum Flüssigkeitsbad hin, gerichtet ist. Hierauf beruht die Anwendbarkeit eines derartigen Systems als Phasentrenner für Helium-II. Die niedrigere Temperatur der Austrittsseite wird durch Druckerniedrigung, z.B. durch Abpumpen, erreicht, die zur Kühlung durch Verdampfen von Flüssigkeit führt. Bei Weltraumbedingungen genügt hierzu lediglich ein Drosselventil inder Abgasleitung, durch welches das Heliumgas in den Weltraum (Vakuum) ausströmt.A device for phase separation of helium-II, especially in the weightless state, is described, inter alia, by HD Denner et al, Freie Universität Berlin, in research report W-79-47, December 1979. The thermomechanical effect (fountain effect) is used to separate superfluid helium (HeII) from the gas phase. This effect manifests itself in two liquid containers connected by a capillary system by increasing the level on the warmer side. This effect is also effective if there is helium gas on one side of the capillary system. If the temperature of the liquid bath is greater than the temperature of the capillary system on the gas phase side, the liquid cannot pass through the capillary system due to the thermomechanical effect if the boundary conditions are selected, since the associated force is opposite to the temperature gradient, i.e. from the outlet side to the liquid bath , is directed. This is the basis of the applicability of such a system as a phase separator for helium-II. The lower temperature on the outlet side is achieved by lowering the pressure, for example by pumping, which leads to cooling by the evaporation of liquid. In this Weltraumbedingun g en only a throttle valve is sufficient inthe exhaust gas line through which flows the helium gas in the space (vacuum).

Ein bekanntes Kapillarsystem, das zur Erzeugung des thermomechanischen Effektes geeignet ist, besteht im wesentlichen aus einem Stopfen aus eng gewickelter Aluminiumfolie mit spiralförmiger Durchlaßöffnung, der in eine Halterung aus gut wärmeleitendem Material eingesetzt und mit dieser an das Abgassystem angeschlossen ist. Bei einem derartigen Stopfen entsteht jedoch durch den Wickelvorgang genau genommen nicht nur eine Durchlaßöffnung, sondern eine Vielzahl unregelmäßiger, in einer Spirale nebeneinanderliegender spaltförmiger Durchlaßöffnungen. Die Wickelspannung muß dabei so eingestellt sein, daß die größte Durchlaßöffnung maximal eine Spaltdicke von ca. 10 µm aufweist, da sonst der thermomechanische Effekt nicht auftritt und flüssigese Helium austreten würde. Durchlaßöffnungen dieser Art lassen sich nicht reproduzierbar herstellen, so daß stets eine Vielzahl derartiger Stopfen hergestellt und im Versuch auf Brauchbarkeit erprobt werden muß.A known capillary system, which is suitable for producing the thermomechanical effect, consists essentially of a plug made of tightly wound aluminum foil with a spiral passage opening, which is inserted into a holder made of a good heat-conducting material and connected to the exhaust system. In the case of such a stopper, however, the winding process does not, strictly speaking, result in only one passage opening, but rather a multiplicity of irregular, gap-like passage openings lying side by side in a spiral. The winding tension must be set so that the largest passage opening has a maximum gap thickness of approx. 10 µm, since otherwise the thermomechanical effect would not occur and liquid helium would escape. Passage openings of this type cannot be produced reproducibly, so that a large number of such plugs must always be produced and tested for usability in an experiment.

Aus der o.g. Literaturstelle ist weiterhin bekannt, daß der thermomechanische Effekt auch in engen Ringspalten wirksam ist, deren Spaltweite ca. 10 µm oder weniger beträgt. In Experimenten wurde jedoch gezeigt, daß bei ausschließlicher Nutzung des thermomechanischen Effektes zur Phasentrennung der Heliumdurchsatz durch einen engen Ringspalt vergleichsweise gering ist. Das würde z.B. im Falle eines für Weltraumexperimente typischen Heliumdurchsatzes von ca. 45 mg/sec einen Ringspalt mit einem Durchmesser von ca. 0,8 m bei einer Spaltweite von ca. 10 µm erfordern. Derartige Ringspalte sind jedoch kaum herstellbar und für die Anwendung in Raumflugkörpern ungeeignet.From the above Literature is also known that the thermomechanical effect is effective even in narrow annular gaps, the gap width is about 10 microns or less. Experiments have shown, however, that when the thermomechanical effect is used exclusively for phase separation, the helium throughput through a narrow annular gap is comparatively low. That would e.g. in the case of a helium throughput of approx. 45 mg / sec typical for space experiments, require an annular gap with a diameter of approx. 0.8 m and a gap width of approx. 10 µm. Such ring gaps are, however, difficult to manufacture and unsuitable for use in spacecraft.

Es ist daher Aufgabe der Erfindung, einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner der obengenannten Art zu schaffen, der reproduzierbar herstellbar und für die Anwendung in Raumflugkörpern geeignet ist.It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a helium-II phase separator of the type mentioned above, which can be produced reproducibly and is suitable for use in spacecraft.

Diese Aufgabe erfüllt ein nach den kennzeichnenden Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 1 ausgebildeter Helium-II-Phasentrenner. Die Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand zweier, in den Figuren teilweise schematisch dargestellter Ausführungsbeispiele beschrieben.This object is achieved by a helium-II phase separator designed according to the characterizing features of patent claim 1. The invention is described below with reference to two exemplary embodiments, which are shown schematically in the figures.

Es zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht bzw. einen Längsschnitt durch einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner aus übereinander gestapelten, quadratischen Ringscheiben;
  • Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner gemäß Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner mit zylindrischem Hohlkörper und achsparallelen Nuten;
  • Fig. 4 einen Querschnitt durch einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner gemäß Fig. 3 im Bereich einer Nut;
  • Fig. 5 einen Längsschnitt durch einen Helium-II-Phasentrenner gemäß Fig. 3 längs der Nut;
  • Fig. 6 eine Aufsicht auf einen Teilbereich eines Helium-II-Phasentrenners gemäß Fig. 3 im Bereich der Nut;
  • Fig. 7 die Anordnung eines Helium-II-Phasentrenners an einem Helium-II-Kyrostaten mit Durchsatzregelung.
Show it:
  • Figure 1 is a side view or a longitudinal section through a helium-II phase separator from stacked square washers.
  • FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a helium-II phase separator according to FIG. 1;
  • 3 shows a helium-II phase separator with a cylindrical hollow body and axially parallel grooves;
  • FIG. 4 shows a cross section through a helium-II phase separator according to FIG. 3 in the region of a groove;
  • 5 shows a longitudinal section through a helium II phase separator according to FIG. 3 along the groove;
  • 6 shows a plan view of a partial area of a helium-II phase separator according to FIG. 3 in the area of the groove;
  • 7 shows the arrangement of a helium-II phase separator on a helium-II cyrostat with throughput control.

Der in Fig. 1 dargestellte Phasentrenner weist im wesentlichen einen Tankflansch 1 zur Befestigung innerhalb eines mit Helium-II gefüllten Tankes eines Kyrostaten auf. An der Stirnseite einer zylindrischen Verlängerung 1.1 des Tankflansches 1 ist ein Stapel aus gleichen quadratischen Ringscheiben 2 mit jeweils dazwischen befindlichen Abstandsstücken 3 angeordnet. Dieser Stapel ist an dem in den Tank hineinragenden Ende mit einer Abdeckscheibe 4 dicht verschlossen und wird zusammen mit dieser Abdeckscheibe durch Zuganker 5 unter elastischer Vorspannung an dem Flansch 1 befestigt. Im Innern des durch den Ringscheibenstapel und die Abdeckscheibe 4 entstandenen Hohlraumes (s. Fig. 2) ist ein mit der Abdeckscheibe 4 verbundener Verdrängungskörper 6 befestigt, der zwischen sich und dem Innenrand jeder Ringscheibe, sowie zum Flansch 1 einen topfförmigen Spalt 7 freiläßt. Dieser topfförmige Spalt 7 steht mit einer durch den Flansch 1 geführten Abgasleitung 8 in Verbindung, welche um die zylindrische Verlängerung 1.1 des Flansches 1 und den Ringscheibenstapel herumgewickelt und somit als Wärmetauscher ausgebildet ist, bis sie in einem zentralen Auslaß 1.2 des Flansches 1 endet.The phase separator shown in FIG. 1 essentially has a tank flange 1 for attachment within a helium-II filled tank of a cyrostat. At the end of a cylindrical extension 1.1 of the tank flange 1 is a stack of the same square washers 2, each with be in between sensitive spacers 3 arranged. This stack is sealed at the end projecting into the tank with a cover plate 4 and is fastened together with this cover plate by means of tie rods 5 to the flange 1 under elastic prestress. In the interior of the cavity created by the ring disk stack and the cover disk 4 (see FIG. 2), a displacement body 6 connected to the cover disk 4 is fastened, which exposes a pot-shaped gap 7 between itself and the inner edge of each ring disk and to the flange 1. This cup-shaped gap 7 is connected to an exhaust pipe 8 guided through the flange 1, which is wound around the cylindrical extension 1.1 of the flange 1 and the ring disk stack and is thus designed as a heat exchanger until it ends in a central outlet 1.2 of the flange 1.

Die Spaltweite zwischen den Scheiben2beträgt ca. 10 µm; sie kann zwischen 5 und 15 µm liegen, wobei dieser Abstand für die zeichnerische Darstellung um das etwa 200-fache überhöht wurde. Die Oberflächengüte der Ringscheiben 2 ist besonders hoch; die Oberflächenwelligkeit sollte <1 µm betragen. Bei einer Außenabmessung der Scheiben 2 von 50 mm, einer durch die Abstandsstücke 3 begrenzten Kanalbreite von 30 mm und einer Strömungskanallänge von 10 mm im Spalt würden für den eingangs erwähnten He-Durchsatz von 45 mg/sec bei dieser Ausführungsform 21 übereinandergestapelte Scheiben erforderlich sein, was bei einer angenommenen Scheibendicke von 2 mm eine Höhe des gesamten Scheibenpaketes von nur ca. 42 mm ergibt.The gap between the discs 2 is approximately 10 microns; it can be between 5 and 15 µm, this distance being increased by about 200 times for the graphic representation. The surface quality of the ring disks 2 is particularly high; the surface ripple should be <1 µm. With an outer dimension of the disks 2 of 50 mm, a channel width of 30 mm delimited by the spacers 3 and a flow channel length of 10 mm in the gap, 21 disks stacked one on top of the other would be required for the He throughput of 45 mg / sec mentioned at the outset in this embodiment, with an assumed pane thickness of 2 mm, this results in a height of the entire pane package of only approx. 42 mm.

Die Funktionsweise dieses Phasentrenners ist bereits aus seinem Aufbau erkennbar:The way this phase separator works can already be seen from its structure:

Zwischen je zwei benachbarten Ringscheiben 2, die in den Ecken quadratische Abstandshalter 3 aufweisen, entstehen vier spaltförmige Durchlaßkanäle, in denen Helium ausschließlich in einer zweidimensionalen Strömung fließen kann. Die Dicke jedes Durchlaßkanales ist gleich und so bemessen, daß bei geeigneten Randbedingungen der thermomechanische Effekt auftritt, aufgrund dessen superfluides Helium (Helium-II) am Durchtritt durch die spaltförmigen Kanäle gehindert wird. In dem topfförmigen Sammelspalt 7 strömt daher nur noch gasförmiges Helium, welches über die Abgasleitung 8 abgezogen wird. Über die i*eiteren als Wärmetauscher ausgebildete Abgasleitung 8 wird die im Heliumgas noch vorhandene Restkälte ausgenutzt.Between two adjacent ring disks 2, which have square spacers 3 in the corners, there are four slot-shaped passage channels in which helium can only flow in a two-dimensional flow. The thickness of each passage channel is the same and dimensioned so that the thermomechanical effect occurs under suitable boundary conditions, due to which superfluid helium (Helium-II) is prevented from passing through the gap-shaped channels. Therefore, only gaseous helium flows in the pot-shaped collecting gap 7 and is drawn off via the exhaust line 8. The residual cold still present in the helium gas is utilized via the exhaust gas line 8, which is designed as a heat exchanger.

Der in Fig. 3 dargestellte Helium-II-Phasentrenner besteht aus einem zylindrischen Hohlkörper 9, der, ähnlich wie die aufeinandergestapelten Ringscheiben des Phasentrenners gemäß Fig. 1,an einem nicht dargestellten Flansch mit zentraler Abgasleitung befestigt ist. Der Hohlkörper 9 weist verteilt auf seinem äußeren Umfang keilförmige Nuten 10 in Richtung der Zylinderlängsachse auf, welche mit dem Innenraum 11 über Bohrungen 12 in Verbindung stehen (sh. Fig. 4 und 5). Im Zentrum der keilförmigen Nuten 10 befinden sich keilförmige Leisten 13, die aufgrund von eingelegten Abstandsstücken 14 jeweils zwei gegenüberliegende Reihen aus gleichen spaltförmigen Durchlaßkanälen 15 erzeugen (sh. Fig. 4,5 und 6). Der Hohlraum 11 ist, ähnlich wie in Fig. 1, auf der dem Flansch abgewendeten Seite mit einem Deckel gasdicht verschlossen, an welchem, ebenfalls wie in Fig. 1, ein zylindrischer Verdrängungskörper zur Erzeugung eines topfförmigen Sammelspaltes befestigt sein kann.The helium-II phase separator shown in Fig. 3 consists of a cylindrical hollow body 9 which, similar to the stacked ring washers of the phase separator according to FIG. 1, is attached to a flange, not shown, with a central exhaust pipe. The hollow body 9 has, on its outer circumference, wedge-shaped grooves 10 in the direction of the cylinder longitudinal axis, which are connected to the interior 11 via bores 12 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In the center of the wedge-shaped grooves 10 are wedge-shaped strips 13 which, due to inserted spacers 14, each produce two opposite rows of the same gap-shaped passage channels 15 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6). The cavity 11, similar to that in FIG. 1, is closed in a gas-tight manner on the side facing away from the flange, to which, as in FIG. 1, a cylindrical displacement body can be fastened to produce a pot-shaped collecting gap.

Die Dicke der Abstandshalter 14 sowie deren Abstände und die dadurch erzeugten Spaltgeometrien entsprechen denen des Phasentrenners gemäß Fig. 1. Die Strömung in diesen Durchlaßkanälen ist somit ebenfalls rein zweidimensional. Die keilförmigen Nuten und Leisten haben bei gleichem Keilwinkel den Vorteil, daß die Spaltdicke durch Verschiebung der Leisten in Keilrichtung eingestellt werden kann.The thickness of the spacers 14 and their spacing and the gap geometries generated thereby correspond to those of the phase separator according to FIG. 1. The flow in these passage channels is thus also purely two-dimensional. With the same wedge angle, the wedge-shaped grooves and strips have the advantage that the gap thickness can be adjusted by moving the strips in the wedge direction.

In Fig. 7 ist in schematischer Weise der Einbau eines Phasentrenners 16 gemäß Fig. 1 oder 3 in den mit Helium-11 gefüllten Tank 17 eines Kyrostaten dargestellt. Das abgeführte gasförmige Helium (GHe) wird dabei zur Kühlung der Strahlungsschilde 18 des Kyrostaten verwendet, bis es über ein Regelventil 19 zu einer Vakuumpumpe bzw. in das Vakuum des Weltalls geführt wird. Die Regelung des Helium-Massendurchsatzes erfolgt durch Veränderung der Druckdifferenz zwischen dem Ein- und Austritt der Durchlaßkanäle derart, daß der thermomechanische Effekt bei den vorgegebenen Badtemperaturen stets erhalten bleibt. Dazu wird das außerhalb des Helium-II-Kyrostaten befindliche Regelventil 19 verwendet, das über einen Regler 20 von einem Motor 21 gesteuert wird. Der Regler 20 verwendet als Meßsignal die Helium-II-Badtemperatur (T). Diese Badtemperatur muß insbesondere bei Weltraumexperimenten sehr feinfühlig geregelt werden. Hat die Helium-II-Badtemperatur steigende Tendenz, so öffnet das Regelventil 19 und die daraufhin in den spaltförmigen Durchlaßkanälen des Phasentrenners 16 entstehende Druckdifferenz wird größer. Aufgrund der steigenden Druckdifferenz steigt auch der Heliumdurchsatz, wodurch sich das Bad wieder abkühlt. Dies wiederum hat die Umkehrung des eben beschriebenen Ablaufes zur Folge.FIG. 7 schematically shows the installation of a phase separator 16 according to FIG. 1 or 3 in the tank 17 of a cyrostat filled with helium-11. The discharged gaseous helium (GHe) is used to cool the radiation shields 18 of the cyrostat until it is fed via a control valve 19 to a vacuum pump or into the vacuum of space. The regulation of the helium mass flow rate is carried out by changing the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the through channels in such a way that the thermomechanical effect is always maintained at the specified bath temperatures. For this purpose, the control valve 19 located outside the helium-II cyrostat is used, which is controlled by a motor 21 via a controller 20. The controller 20 uses the helium II bath temperature (T) as the measurement signal. This bath temperature must be regulated very sensitively, especially in space experiments. If the helium-II bath temperature has a rising tendency, the control valve 19 opens and the pressure difference which then arises in the gap-shaped passage channels of the phase separator 16 becomes larger. Due to the increasing pressure difference, the helium throughput also increases, causing the bath to cool down again. This in turn results in the reverse of the procedure just described.

Claims (11)

1. Helium-II-Phasentrenner mit spaltförmigen Durchlaßkanälen zur Ausnutzung des thermomechanischen Effektes gekennzeichnet durch mehrere, nebeneinander gelegene spaltförmige Durchlaßkanäle gleicher Spaltdicke, welche in den Wandungen eines in flüssiges Helium hineinragenden Hohlraumes angeordnet sind, aus dessen Innenraum gasförmiges Helium abführbar ist.1. Helium-II phase separator with slot-shaped passage channels for utilizing the thermomechanical effect, characterized by several, side-by-side slot-shaped passage channels of the same gap thickness, which are arranged in the walls of a cavity protruding into liquid helium, from the interior of which gaseous helium can be removed. 2. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß die Geometrie der Durchlaßkanäle lediglich eine zweidimensionale Strömung zuläßt.2. phase separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the geometry of the passage channels only allows a two-dimensional flow. 3. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß die Durchlaßkanäle jeweils durch zwei planparallele Wandungen gebildet werden, zwischen denen Abstandsstücke definierter Dicke angeordnet sind.3. phase separator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the passage channels are each formed by two plane-parallel walls, between which spacers of a defined thickness are arranged. 4. Phasentrenner nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß der Hohlraum und die Durchlaßkanäle durch Aufeinanderstapelung von Ringscheiben (2) mit dazwischen liegenden Abstandsstücken (3) gebildet werden.4. phase separator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity and the passage channels are formed by stacking ring washers (2) with spacers (3) therebetween. 5. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 4, dadurch ge- kennzeichnet, daß die Ringscheiben (2) n-eckig oder kreisförmig ausgebildet sind.5. phase separator according to claim 4, character- ized in that the annular discs (2) are n-shaped or circular. 6. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß die Ringscheiben (2) und die Abstandsstücke (3) durch Zuganker (5) mit elastischer Vorspannung miteinander verbunden sind.6. phase separator according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the annular discs (2) and the spacers (3) are connected to each other by tie rods (5) with elastic bias. 7. Phasentrenner nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß der Hohlraum und die Durchlaßkanäle durch einen zylindrischen Hohlkörper (9) mit achsparallelen Nuten (10) gebildet wird.7. phase separator according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity and the passage channels are formed by a cylindrical hollow body (9) with axially parallel grooves (10). 8. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 7, dadurch ge- kennzeichnet, daß innerhalb der Nuten (10) in Nutlängsrichtung Leisten (13) mit Abstandsstücken (14) zur Bildung je zweier Durchlaßkanäle angeordnet sind.8. phase separator according to claim 7, characterized in that strips (13) with spacers (14) are arranged within the grooves (10) in the longitudinal direction of the groove to form two passage channels each. 9. Phasentrenner nach Anspruch 8, dadurch ge- kennzeichnet, daß die Nuten (10) und Leisten (13) keilförmig und mit gleichem Keilwinkel ausgebildet sind.9. phase separator according to claim 8, character- ized in that the grooves (10) and strips (13) are wedge-shaped and with the same wedge angle. 10. Phasentrenner nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß parallel zur Innenwand des Hohlraumes eine weitere Wandung (6) zur Bildung eines spaltförmigen Abfuhrkanales (7) für das gasförmige Helium vorgesehen ist, dessen Abmessung quer zur Strömungsrichtung des Gases größer ist als die der Durchlaßkanäle.10. phase separator according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that parallel to the inner wall of the cavity, a further wall (6) is provided to form a gap-shaped discharge channel (7) for the gaseous helium, the dimension of which is larger transversely to the flow direction of the gas than that of the passageways. 11. Phasentrenner nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet , daß die Abfuhr des gasförmigen Heliums aus dem Hohlraum über einen mit dem flüssigen Helium in Wärmekontakt stehenden Wärmetauscher (8) erfolgt.11. Phase separator according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the gaseous helium is removed from the cavity via a heat exchanger (8) which is in thermal contact with the liquid helium.
EP85104020A 1984-05-09 1985-04-03 Phase separator for helium ii Expired - Lifetime EP0160840B1 (en)

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DE3417055 1984-05-09
DE3417055A DE3417055C2 (en) 1984-05-09 1984-05-09 Helium II phase separator

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US4848093A (en) * 1987-08-24 1989-07-18 Quantum Design Apparatus and method for regulating temperature in a cryogenic test chamber
US4791788A (en) * 1987-08-24 1988-12-20 Quantum Design, Inc. Method for obtaining improved temperature regulation when using liquid helium cooling
FR2747595B1 (en) * 1996-04-19 1998-08-21 Air Liquide PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR PROVIDING ULTRA-PUR HELIUM
US5647228A (en) * 1996-07-12 1997-07-15 Quantum Design, Inc. Apparatus and method for regulating temperature in a cryogenic test chamber
FR2781868B1 (en) * 1998-07-29 2000-09-15 Air Liquide PLANT AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING HELIUM WITH MULTIPLE PRODUCTION LINES

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US4607490A (en) 1986-08-26
EP0160840A3 (en) 1986-10-15
JPS60244308A (en) 1985-12-04
DE3579492D1 (en) 1990-10-11
DE3417055A1 (en) 1985-11-14
DE3417055C2 (en) 1986-05-07
EP0160840B1 (en) 1990-09-05

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