EP2084722B1 - Method for cooling superconducting magnets - Google Patents
Method for cooling superconducting magnets Download PDFInfo
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- EP2084722B1 EP2084722B1 EP07819508.8A EP07819508A EP2084722B1 EP 2084722 B1 EP2084722 B1 EP 2084722B1 EP 07819508 A EP07819508 A EP 07819508A EP 2084722 B1 EP2084722 B1 EP 2084722B1
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- helium
- cooling
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- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 title claims description 32
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 27
- 239000001307 helium Substances 0.000 claims description 64
- 229910052734 helium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 64
- SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium atom Chemical compound [He] SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 61
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 15
- 238000011049 filling Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 3
- 150000002371 helium Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000010791 quenching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003463 adsorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000274 adsorptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005587 bubbling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011010 flushing procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 for example Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000171 quenching effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008929 regeneration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011069 regeneration method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01F6/00—Superconducting magnets; Superconducting coils
- H01F6/04—Cooling
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
- F25B9/002—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet.
- a plant with helium cooling circuit is from the EP 1 655 616 A1 known.
- Object of the present invention is to provide a generic method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.
- a method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet which is characterized in that the cooling of the superconducting magnet or exclusively by means of several, located on at least two temperature levels helium flows, wherein the magnet to be cooled, a first mixture consisting from a helium stream at ambient temperature level and a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level, and then a second mixture consisting of a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level and a helium stream at a temperature level of about 10 K, is supplied.
- Liquid nitrogen may be used indirectly as a partial primary source of cold, especially for pre-cooling of helium. This creates - assuming a corresponding pre-cleaning - a cryostat volume with negligible residual impurities. This leads to a significant reduction in the quench tendency of a correspondingly cooled superconducting magnet. This in turn results in a significant reduction of the not insignificant helium losses that are inevitably associated with the occurrence of the quenching effect.
- the temperature difference between the cooling flow or the medium and the magnet to be cooled is comparatively low, which is thermodynamically favorable.
- the heat transfer coefficient in the helium gas can be kept relatively large by a correspondingly large Gas flow rate is selected. This gentler cooling of the magnets allows an accelerated cooling process, ie significantly shorter throughput times of the production process.
- the inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet makes it possible to cool and fill magnets by means of only one helium refrigeration system. Unwanted opening of the cryostat of the magnet with respect to the atmosphere is thus no longer necessary.
- the filling of the magnets with liquid helium can be done relatively quickly by using a liquid helium pump.
- the inventive method also allows a significant saving of liquid helium, which must be collected in the methods of the prior art, cleaned and then re-liquefied. Furthermore, the amount of helium that is finally lost to the atmosphere is significantly reduced.
- the cooling of the superconducting magnet or magnets by the magnet to be cooled a first mixture consisting of a helium stream at ambient temperature level and a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level, and then a second Mixture, consisting of a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level and a helium stream at a temperature level of about 10 K, is supplied.
- the figure shows in schematic form a helium refrigeration cycle, which serves to cool two superconducting magnets M1 and M2.
- a single or multistage Compressor unit C preferably a screw compressor system is used - helium is sucked in at about ambient pressure and compressed to a pressure between about 13 and 20 bar (high pressure).
- the compressor unit C possibly downstream (water) cooler and oil separator.
- the high-pressure helium stream is fed via line 1 to a first heat exchanger E1 and in this against medium-pressure and low-pressure helium streams - which will be discussed below - and against liquid nitrogen, which is passed via line 2 through the heat exchanger E1 on about 80 K cooled.
- the adsorption unit A is preferably designed to be redundant and moreover has means for the regeneration of the loaded adsorbent.
- the withdrawn via line 3 from the first heat exchanger E1 helium stream can now be divided into three partial streams 4, 11 and 15.
- the former part of the stream is fed via line 4 to an expansion turbine X and relaxed in this to a mean pressure between 2 and 3 bar.
- this medium-pressure helium stream is passed through the line sections 5 to 10 through the two heat exchangers E2 and E1 and warmed up to ambient temperature in this, before it is fed to the compressor unit C.
- the aforementioned second helium partial stream is fed via line 11 to the second heat exchanger E2 and further cooled in this against process streams to be heated.
- Via line 12 of this helium partial stream is supplied after passing through the heat exchanger E2 a second expansion turbine X 'and relaxed in this also with cooling at a temperature of about 10 K to a medium pressure between 2 and 3 bar.
- this medium-pressure helium flow is supplied via the line sections 13, 14, 19 to 21 and 10 after warming to ambient temperature in the heat exchanger E1 of the compressor unit C.
- the aforementioned third helium partial flow can also be fed to the compressor unit C via the line sections 15 and 7 to 10.
- the figure shows a helium refrigeration plant which serves to cool only two superconducting magnets M1 and M2.
- the cryostat volumes of the magnets M1 and M2 are, if necessary, evacuated (several times) before the actual cooling process, rinsed and largely freed from unwanted residues or impurities, such as air and moisture, by circulating dried helium gas.
- the facilities required for this purpose are not shown in the figure.
- the medium-pressure helium gas is supplied via the line sections 26 and 30 to the magnet M1 / M2 to be cooled.
- the valve b is open, medium-pressure helium gas, which has a temperature of approximately 80 K, is supplied to the magnets M1 / M2 to be cooled via the line sections 24 and 30.
- any desired flow temperature between ambient temperature and a temperature of about 80 K can be set.
- a continuous cooling of the magnets M1 / M2 is achieved from ambient temperature to a temperature level of about 80 K.
- the helium supply via line 26 is already closed again at this time and helium is supplied exclusively via line 24 - valve c is opened, so that via the line sections 16 and 30 medium-pressure helium gas, which has a temperature of about 10 K, mixed or the magnet M1 / M2 can be supplied.
- the flow temperature is further lowered.
- the warmed return gas leaving the magnets M1 / M2 is further supplied to the first heat exchanger E1 via the line sections 31 and 25 when the valve f is open. However, this recycling takes place only until a certain temperature - this is between 50 and 60 K - is exceeded. Then valve f is closed and valve g is opened. Now, the heated return gas can be supplied via the line sections 31 and 17 to the second heat exchanger E2. For this purpose, it is fed via the line sections 18 to 21 and 10 of the compressor unit C.
- valve g When the temperature of the return gas withdrawn from the magnets M1 / M2 reaches the outlet temperature of the second expansion turbine X ', valve g is closed and valve h is opened. Now, the warmed return gas is supplied via the line sections 31 and 23 to the cold end of the heat exchanger E2 and warmed in this. Via the line sections 18 to 21 and 10, this return gas is supplied through the heat exchanger E1 and the compressor unit C.
- the inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet is particularly suitable for implementation in a helium refrigerator, which serves for the parallel cooling of superconducting MRI magnets and the filling of the cryostat with liquid. Furthermore, the inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet but also always be used when a relatively gentle cooling is required, only relatively small temperature differences occur or allowed, the cooling rate must be controlled, a relatively high helium flow rate of advantage or is desired and impurities are undesirable.
- the inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet allows the parallel and temporally offset cooling and filling of one or more magnets, wherein the number of magnets to be cooled in principle can be arbitrarily large.
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten.The invention relates to a method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet.
Supraleitende Magnete und deren Kryostate werden im Regelfall bisher abgekühlt, indem das Kryostatvolumen zur Vermeidung hohen Materialstresses langsam mit flüssigem Stickstoff beschickt und auf diese Weise auf eine Temperatur von ca. 80 K abgekühlt wird. Anschließend wird der enthaltene flüssige Stickstoff entfernt, indem Helium auf Umgebungstemperatur so lange eingeblasen wird, bis sowohl flüssiger als auch gasförmiger Stickstoff - wenn auch nicht vollständig - entfernt sind. Dabei steigt der Mittelwert der Temperatur von Magnet und Kryostat erneut auf ca. 100 bis 110 K an. Nunmehr wird die Anordnung mittels flüssigen Heliums, das wiederum dosiert zugeführt wird, bis auf eine Temperatur von 4.5 K abgekühlt, bevor das Kryostatvolumen anschließend mit flüssigem Helium befüllt wird.As a rule, superconducting magnets and their cryostats have been cooled beforehand by slowly charging the volume of cryostat with liquid nitrogen in order to avoid high material stress and in this way cooling it to a temperature of about 80 K. Subsequently, the liquid nitrogen contained is removed by bubbling helium to ambient temperature until both liquid and gaseous nitrogen are removed, although not completely. The mean value of the temperature of magnet and cryostat increases again to about 100 to 110 K. Now the arrangement is cooled down to a temperature of 4.5 K by means of liquid helium, which in turn is metered in, before the cryostat volume is subsequently filled with liquid helium.
Von Nachteil bei der beschriebenen Verfahrensweise ist jedoch, dass insbesondere der Verbrauch an flüssigem Helium wegen der prozessbedingt auftretenden, großen Temperaturdifferenzen vergleichsweise hoch ist und des Weiteren ein beträchtlicher Anteil des eingesetzten Heliums für immer verloren geht, da es in die Umgebung bzw. Atmosphäre entweicht. Da die Ressourcen an Helium weltweit knapp werden und damit einhergehend steigende Preise zu verzeichnen sind, besteht folglich ein Bedarf an Helium-verbrauchenden Prozessen, bei denen so viel als möglich Helium zurückgewonnen werden kann.A disadvantage of the procedure described, however, is that in particular the consumption of liquid helium is comparatively high because of the process-related, large temperature differences and furthermore a considerable portion of the helium used is lost forever, since it escapes into the environment or atmosphere. As helium resources are scarce worldwide and prices are rising, there is a need for helium-consuming processes that recover as much helium as possible.
Die "direkte Verwendung" von flüssigem Stickstoff und die damit verbundene Kontamination führt dazu, dass der flüssige Stickstoff auch durch das Spülen mit Helium nicht restlos entfernt werden kann. Diese Tatsache hat nunmehr jedoch einen unerwünschten Einfluss auf das Verhalten der supraleitenden Magnete, nämlich deren erhöhter Neigung zu quenchen, d. h. plötzlich wieder einen Ohmschen Widerstand darzustellen. Von Nachteil bei der vorbeschriebenen Verfahrensweise ist ferner, dass aufgrund der auftretenden Temperaturdifferenzen - Umgebungstemperatur gegen Flüssig-Stickstofftemperatur - sowohl bei der Verwendung von flüssigem Stickstoff als auch bei der Verwendung von Helium, der Abkühlprozess thermodynamisch und damit auch wirtschaftlich enorm ineffizient ist.The "direct use" of liquid nitrogen and the associated contamination means that the liquid nitrogen can not be completely removed by flushing with helium. However, this fact now has an undesirable influence on the behavior of the superconducting magnets, namely their increased tendency to quench, that is suddenly to represent an ohmic resistance again. A disadvantage of the above-described procedure is further that due to the temperature differences occurring - ambient temperature against liquid nitrogen temperature - both in the use of liquid nitrogen as Even with the use of helium, the cooling process is thermodynamically and thus economically inefficient.
Eine Anlage mit Helium-Kühlkreislauf ist aus der
Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist es, ein gattungsgemäßes Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten anzugeben, das die vorgenannten Nachteile vermeidet.Object of the present invention is to provide a generic method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet, which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.
Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe wird ein Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten vorgeschlagen, das dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass die Abkühlung des oder der supraleitenden Magneten ausschließlich mittels mehrerer, auf wenigstens zwei Temperaturniveaus befindlichen Heliumströmen erfolgt, wobei dem zu kühlenden Magneten ein erstes Gemisch, bestehend aus einem Heliumstrom auf Umgebungstemperaturniveau und einem Heliumstrom auf Flüssig-Stickstoff-Temperaturniveau, und anschließend ein zweites Gemisch, bestehend aus einem Heliumstrom auf Flüssig-Stickstoff-Temperaturniveau und einem Heliumstrom auf einem Temperaturniveau von ca. 10 K, zugeführt wird.To solve this problem, a method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet is proposed, which is characterized in that the cooling of the superconducting magnet or exclusively by means of several, located on at least two temperature levels helium flows, wherein the magnet to be cooled, a first mixture consisting from a helium stream at ambient temperature level and a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level, and then a second mixture consisting of a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level and a helium stream at a temperature level of about 10 K, is supplied.
Erfindungsgemäß wird nunmehr zum Abkühlen der Magnete jedoch ausschließlich Helium verwendet. Flüssiger Stickstoff kommt ggf. indirekt als partielle primäre Kältequelle - insbesondere zur Vorkühlung des Heliums - zur Anwendung. Dadurch entsteht - eine entsprechende Vorreinigung vorausgesetzt - ein Kryostatvolumen mit vernachlässigbaren Restverunreinigungen. Dies führt zu einer deutlichen Reduktion der Quench-Neigung eines entsprechend abgekühlten supraleitenden Magneten. Daraus wiederum resultiert eine deutliche Reduzierung der bisher nicht unerheblichen Heliumverluste, die zwangsläufig mit dem Auftreten des Quench-Effektes verbunden sind.According to the invention, however, only helium is now used to cool the magnets. Liquid nitrogen may be used indirectly as a partial primary source of cold, especially for pre-cooling of helium. This creates - assuming a corresponding pre-cleaning - a cryostat volume with negligible residual impurities. This leads to a significant reduction in the quench tendency of a correspondingly cooled superconducting magnet. This in turn results in a significant reduction of the not insignificant helium losses that are inevitably associated with the occurrence of the quenching effect.
Des Weiteren ist bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten die Temperaturdifferenz zwischen Kühlstrom bzw. -medium und dem zu kühlenden Magneten vergleichsweise gering, was thermodynamisch günstig ist. Gleichzeitig kann der Wärmeübergangskoeffizient im Helium-Gas relativ groß gehalten werden, indem ein entsprechend großer Gasdurchsatz gewählt wird. Dieses sanftere Abkühlen der Magnete ermöglicht einen beschleunigten Abkühlvorgang, d. h. signifikant kürzere Durchlaufzeiten des Produktionsvorganges.Furthermore, in the method according to the invention for cooling at least one superconducting magnet, the temperature difference between the cooling flow or the medium and the magnet to be cooled is comparatively low, which is thermodynamically favorable. At the same time, the heat transfer coefficient in the helium gas can be kept relatively large by a correspondingly large Gas flow rate is selected. This gentler cooling of the magnets allows an accelerated cooling process, ie significantly shorter throughput times of the production process.
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten ermöglicht es, Magneten mittels nur einer Helium-Kälteanlage abzukühlen und zu befüllen. Ein unerwünschtes Öffnen des Kryostaten des Magneten gegenüber der Atmosphäre ist somit nicht mehr erforderlich. Darüber hinaus kann das Befüllen der Magnete mit flüssigem Helium vergleichsweise schnell erfolgen, indem eine Flüssig-Helium-Pumpe verwendet wird. Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren ermöglicht zudem eine deutliche Einsparung von flüssigem Helium, welches bei den zum Stand der Technik zählenden Verfahren gesammelt, gereinigt und anschließend wieder verflüssigt werden muss. Des Weiteren wird auch der Helium-Anteil, der endgültig an die Atmosphäre verloren geht, wesentlich reduziert.The inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet makes it possible to cool and fill magnets by means of only one helium refrigeration system. Unwanted opening of the cryostat of the magnet with respect to the atmosphere is thus no longer necessary. In addition, the filling of the magnets with liquid helium can be done relatively quickly by using a liquid helium pump. The inventive method also allows a significant saving of liquid helium, which must be collected in the methods of the prior art, cleaned and then re-liquefied. Furthermore, the amount of helium that is finally lost to the atmosphere is significantly reduced.
Entsprechend einer Ausgestaltung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten erfolgt die Abkühlung des oder der supraleitenden Magneten, indem dem zu kühlenden Magneten ein erstes Gemisch, bestehend aus einem Heliumstrom auf Umgebungstemperaturniveau und einem Heliumstrom auf Flüssig-Stickstoff-Temperaturniveau, und anschließend ein zweites Gemisch, bestehend aus einem Heliumstrom auf Flüssig-Stickstoff-Temperaturniveau und einem Heliumstrom auf einem Temperaturniveau von ca. 10 K, zugeführt wird.According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention for cooling at least one superconducting magnet, the cooling of the superconducting magnet or magnets by the magnet to be cooled, a first mixture consisting of a helium stream at ambient temperature level and a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level, and then a second Mixture, consisting of a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level and a helium stream at a temperature level of about 10 K, is supplied.
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten sowie weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen desselben, die Gegenstände der anhängigen Patentansprüche darstellen, seien im Folgenden anhand des in der Figur dargestellten Ausführungsbeispieles näher erläutert.The inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet and further advantageous embodiments thereof, which constitute subjects of the appended claims, are explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiment shown in the figure.
Der Übersichtlichkeit halber sind in der Figur eine Vielzahl der erforderlichen Regelventile nicht dargestellt. Deren Darstellung erübrigt sich jedoch für einen Fachmann aufgrund der nachfolgenden Verfahrensbeschreibung.For the sake of clarity, a large number of the required control valves are not shown in the figure. However, their representation is unnecessary for a person skilled in the art on the basis of the following process description.
Die Figur zeigt in schematisierter Form einen Helium-Kältekreislauf, der der Abkühlung zweier supraleitender Magnete M1 und M2 dient. Mittels einer ein- oder mehrstufigen Verdichtereinheit C - hierbei kommt vorzugsweise ein Schraubenkompressor-System zur Anwendung - wird Helium bei etwa Umgebungsdruck angesaugt und auf einen Druck zwischen ca. 13 und 20 bar (Hochdruck) verdichtet. In der Figur nicht dargestellt sind ein der Verdichtereinheit C ggf. nachgeschalteter (Wasser)Kühler und Ölabscheider.The figure shows in schematic form a helium refrigeration cycle, which serves to cool two superconducting magnets M1 and M2. By means of a single or multistage Compressor unit C - preferably a screw compressor system is used - helium is sucked in at about ambient pressure and compressed to a pressure between about 13 and 20 bar (high pressure). Not shown in the figure are one of the compressor unit C possibly downstream (water) cooler and oil separator.
Der Hochdruck-Heliumstrom wird über Leitung 1 einem ersten Wärmetauscher E1 zugeführt und in diesem gegen Mitteldruck- und Niederdruck-Heliumströme - auf die im Folgenden noch eingegangen werden wird - sowie gegen flüssigen Stickstoff, der über Leitung 2 durch den Wärmetauscher E1 geführt wird, auf ca. 80 K abgekühlt.The high-pressure helium stream is fed via line 1 to a first heat exchanger E1 and in this against medium-pressure and low-pressure helium streams - which will be discussed below - and against liquid nitrogen, which is passed via line 2 through the heat exchanger E1 on about 80 K cooled.
Anschließend erfolgt eine vorzugsweise adsorptiv ausgebildete Reinigung A des gekühlten Hochdruck-Heliumstromes. In dieser Reinigungsstufe A erfolgt eine Abtrennung der ggf. vorhandenen unerwünschten Restverunreinigungen, wie bspw. Luft. Die Adsorptionseinheit A ist vorzugsweise redundant ausgeführt und weist darüber hinaus Mittel zur Regeneration des beladenen Adsorptionsmittels auf.This is followed by a preferably adsorptive cleaning A of the cooled high-pressure helium stream. In this purification stage A, there is a separation of any unwanted residual impurities, such as, for example, air. The adsorption unit A is preferably designed to be redundant and moreover has means for the regeneration of the loaded adsorbent.
Der über Leitung 3 aus dem ersten Wärmetauscher E1 abgezogene Heliumstrom kann nunmehr auf drei Teilströme 4, 11 und 15 aufgeteilt werden. Der erstgenannte Teilstrom wird über Leitung 4 einer Expansionsturbine X zugeführt und in dieser auf einen Mitteldruck zwischen 2 und 3 bar entspannt. Anschließend wird dieser Mitteldruck-Heliumstrom über die Leitungsabschnitte 5 bis 10 durch die beiden Wärmetauscher E2 und E1 geführt und in diesen bis auf Umgebungstemperatur angewärmt, bevor er der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt wird.The withdrawn via
Der vorgenannte zweite Heliumteilstrom wird über Leitung 11 dem zweiten Wärmetauscher E2 zugeführt und in diesem gegen anzuwärmende Verfahrensströme weiter abgekühlt. Über Leitung 12 wird dieser Heliumteilstrom nach Durchgang durch den Wärmetauscher E2 einer zweiten Expansionsturbine X' zugeführt und in dieser ebenfalls unter Kälteerzeugung bei einer Temperatur von ca. 10 K auf einen Mitteldruck zwischen 2 und 3 bar entspannt. Auch dieser Mitteldruck-Heliumstrom wird über die Leitungsabschnitte 13, 14, 19 bis 21 und 10 nach Anwärmung auf Umgebungstemperatur im Wärmetauscher E1 der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt.The aforementioned second helium partial stream is fed via
Der vorgenannte dritte Heliumteilstrom kann über die Leitungsabschnitte 15 und 7 bis 10 ebenfalls der der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt werden.The aforementioned third helium partial flow can also be fed to the compressor unit C via the
Somit liegen drei Mitteldruck-Heliumströme auf unterschiedlichen Temperaturniveaus vor. Es sind dies der in der zweiten Expansionsturbine X' entspannte Heliumstrom, der eine Temperatur von ca. 10 K aufweist, der am Ausgang des Wärmetauschers E1 vorliegende Heliumstrom, der eine Temperatur von ca. 80 K aufweist und der in den Wärmetauschern E2 und E1 auf Umgebungstemperatur angewärmte Heliumstrom in Leitung 8.Thus, there are three medium-pressure helium flows at different temperature levels. These are the helium stream which has been relaxed in the second expansion turbine X 'and has a temperature of approximately 10 K, the helium stream present at the outlet of the heat exchanger E1 which has a temperature of approximately 80 K and that in the heat exchangers E2 and E1 Ambient temperature warmed helium stream in
Wie bereits erwähnt zeigt die Figur eine Helium-Kälteanlage, die der Abkühlung ausschließlich zweier supraleitender Magnete M1 und M2 dient. Die Kryostatvolumina der Magnete M1 und M2 werden vor dem eigentlichen Abkühlprozess sofern erforderlich (mehrmals) evakuiert, gespült und durch Zirkulieren von getrocknetem Heliumgas weitgehend von unerwünschten Rückständen bzw. Verunreinigungen, wie Luft und Feuchtigkeit, befreit. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber sind die dafür erforderlichen Einrichtungen in der Figur nicht dargestellt.As already mentioned, the figure shows a helium refrigeration plant which serves to cool only two superconducting magnets M1 and M2. The cryostat volumes of the magnets M1 and M2 are, if necessary, evacuated (several times) before the actual cooling process, rinsed and largely freed from unwanted residues or impurities, such as air and moisture, by circulating dried helium gas. For the sake of clarity, the facilities required for this purpose are not shown in the figure.
Zu Beginn des eigentlichen Abkühlvorganges wird bei geöffnetem Ventil a über die Leitungsabschnitte 26 und 30 dem bzw. den abzukühlenden Magneten M1/M2 auf Umgebungstemperatur befindliches Mitteldruck-Heliumgas zugeführt. Gleichzeitig wird bei geöffnetem Ventil b über die Leitungsabschnitte 24 und 30 Mitteldruck-Heliumgas, das eine Temperatur von ca. 80 K aufweist, den abzukühlenden Magneten M1/M2 zugeführt. Durch das Mischen der beiden vorgenannten Mitteldruck-Heliumströme kann jede gewünschte Vorlauftemperatur zwischen Umgebungstemperatur und einer Temperatur von ca. 80 K eingestellt werden. Damit wird ein kontinuierliches Abkühlen der Magnete M1/M2 von Umgebungstemperatur bis auf ein Temperaturniveau von ca. 80 K erreicht.At the beginning of the actual cooling process, when the valve is open a, the medium-pressure helium gas is supplied via the
Über die Leitungsabschnitte 31 und 25 wird bei geöffnetem Ventil f das aus den Magneten M1/M2 abgezogene, angewärmte Rückgas wieder dem Wärmetauscher E1 zugeführt, in diesem angewärmt und anschließend über die Leitungsabschnitte 20, 21 und 10 der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt.Via the
Sobald die Magnete M1/M2 eine Temperatur von etwas über 80 K erreicht haben - die Heliumzuführung über Leitung 26 ist zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits wieder geschlossen und es wird ausschließlich über Leitung 24 Helium zugeführt -, wird Ventil c geöffnet, so dass über die Leitungsabschnitte 16 und 30 Mitteldruck-Heliumgas, das eine Temperatur von ca. 10 K aufweist, zugemischt bzw. den Magneten M1/M2 zugeführt werden kann. Mittels dieses Verfahrensschrittes wird die Vorlauftemperatur weiter erniedrigt.As soon as the magnets M1 / M2 have reached a temperature of slightly above 80 K - the helium supply via
Das die Magnete M1/M2 verlassende, angewärmte Rückgas wird weiterhin bei geöffnetem Ventil f über die Leitungsabschnitte 31 und 25 dem ersten Wärmetauscher E1 zugeführt. Diese Rückführung erfolgt jedoch nur solange, bis eine bestimmte Temperatur - diese beträgt zwischen 50 und 60 K - unterschritten wird. Dann wird Ventil f geschlossen und Ventil g geöffnet. Nunmehr kann das erwärmte Rückgas über die Leitungsabschnitte 31 und 17 dem zweiten Wärmetauscher E2 zugeführt werden. Aus diesem wird es über die Leitungsabschnitte 18 bis 21 und 10 der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt.The warmed return gas leaving the magnets M1 / M2 is further supplied to the first heat exchanger E1 via the
Erreicht die Temperatur des aus den Magneten M1/M2 abgezogenen Rückgases die Austrittstemperatur der zweiten Expansionsturbine X', wird Ventil g geschlossen und Ventil h geöffnet. Nunmehr wird das angewärmte Rückgas über die Leitungsabschnitte 31 und 23 dem kalten Ende des Wärmetauschers E2 zugeführt und in diesem angewärmt. Über die Leitungsabschnitte 18 bis 21 und 10 wird auch dieses Rückgas durch den Wärmetauscher E1 und der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt.When the temperature of the return gas withdrawn from the magnets M1 / M2 reaches the outlet temperature of the second expansion turbine X ', valve g is closed and valve h is opened. Now, the warmed return gas is supplied via the
Bei Unterschreiten einer bestimmten Temperaturdifferenz - diese beträgt vorzugsweise 0.5 bis 1 K - zwischen der Temperatur des aus den Magneten M1/M2 abgezogenen Rückgases und der Austrittstemperatur der Expansionsturbine X' wird Ventil c geschlossen und Ventil d geöffnet. Über die Leitungsabschnitte 28 und 30 werden die Magnete M1/M2 nunmehr mit flüssigem Helium aus dem Dewar D beschickt, dabei vollends auf Sattdampftemperatur gebracht und mit flüssigem Helium gefüllt. Das dabei verdrängte, kalte Heliumgas kann der Verdichtereinheit C zugeführt werden und/oder zur Kühlung weiterer Magnete, deren Abkühlvorgänge zeitlich versetzt stattfinden, genutzt werden. Alternativ dazu kann dieses Heliumgas auch über eine in der Figur nicht dargestellte Leitung in den Dewar D zurückgeführt bzw. gedrückt werden; hierzu bedarf es jedoch des Einsatzes einer Flüssig-Helium-Pumpe.When falling below a certain temperature difference - this is preferably 0.5 to 1 K - between the temperature of the withdrawn from the magnet M1 / M2 back gas and the outlet temperature of the expansion turbine X 'valve c is closed and valve d open. Via the
Der Ablauf des vorbeschriebenen Procederes kann - beginnend mit der Reinigung der Kryostaten und endend mit der Befüllung der Kryostaten mit flüssigem Helium - vollautomatisch erfolgen. Dies hat den Vorteil, dass menschliches Fehlverhalten ausgeschlossen werden kann.The sequence of the above-described procedure can be carried out fully automatically, starting with the cleaning of the cryostat and ending with the filling of the cryostat with liquid helium. This has the advantage that human error can be ruled out.
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten eignet sich insbesondere zur Realisierung in einer Heliumkälteanlage, die der parallelen Abkühlung supraleitender MRI-Magnete und der Befüllung der Kryostate mit Flüssigkeit dient. Des Weiteren kann das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten aber auch immer dann zur Anwendung kommen, wenn eine vergleichsweise sanfte Abkühlung erforderlich ist, nur vergleichsweise kleine Temperaturdifferenzen auftreten sollen oder dürfen, die Abkühlgeschwindigkeit kontrolliert werden muss, ein relativ hoher Heliumdurchsatz von Vorteil oder gewünscht ist und Verunreinigungen unerwünscht sind.The inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet is particularly suitable for implementation in a helium refrigerator, which serves for the parallel cooling of superconducting MRI magnets and the filling of the cryostat with liquid. Furthermore, the inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet but also always be used when a relatively gentle cooling is required, only relatively small temperature differences occur or allowed, the cooling rate must be controlled, a relatively high helium flow rate of advantage or is desired and impurities are undesirable.
Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zum Abkühlen wenigstens eines supraleitenden Magneten ermöglicht das parallele und zeitliche versetzte Abkühlen und Befüllen eines oder mehrerer Magnete, wobei die Anzahl der abzukühlenden Magnete im Prinzip beliebig groß sein kann.The inventive method for cooling at least one superconducting magnet allows the parallel and temporally offset cooling and filling of one or more magnets, wherein the number of magnets to be cooled in principle can be arbitrarily large.
Claims (1)
- Method of cooling at least one superconducting magnet, characterized in that the cooling of the superconducting magnet(s) (M1, M2) is effected exclusively by means of two or more helium streams present at at least two temperature levels, by supplying the magnets (M1, M2) to be cooled with a first mixture consisting of a helium stream at ambient temperature level and a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level, and then supplying a second mixture consisting of a helium stream at liquid nitrogen temperature level and a helium stream at a temperature level of about 10 K.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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DE102006051880A DE102006051880A1 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2006-10-31 | Method for cooling superconducting magnets |
PCT/EP2007/009476 WO2008052777A1 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2007-10-31 | Method for cooling superconducting magnets |
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EP2084722A1 EP2084722A1 (en) | 2009-08-05 |
EP2084722B1 true EP2084722B1 (en) | 2016-07-20 |
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EP07819508.8A Active EP2084722B1 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2007-10-31 | Method for cooling superconducting magnets |
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US (1) | US8291725B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2084722B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5306216B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101536123B (en) |
DE (1) | DE102006051880A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008052777A1 (en) |
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JP2010269136A (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2010-12-02 | Toshiba Corp | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus |
CN102054554B (en) * | 2009-10-30 | 2015-07-08 | 通用电气公司 | System and method for refrigerating superconducting magnet |
FR2970563B1 (en) * | 2011-01-19 | 2017-06-02 | Air Liquide | INSTALLATION AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HELIUM |
DE102011112911A1 (en) * | 2011-09-08 | 2013-03-14 | Linde Aktiengesellschaft | refrigeration plant |
CN111043805B (en) * | 2019-12-30 | 2021-09-10 | 成都新连通低温设备有限公司 | High-power variable temperature pressure experiment system for liquid nitrogen temperature zone |
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JPS61214403A (en) * | 1985-03-19 | 1986-09-24 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Cryogenic apparatus |
JPH01137166A (en) * | 1987-11-24 | 1989-05-30 | Daikin Ind Ltd | Cryogenic helium refrigerator |
US4796433A (en) * | 1988-01-06 | 1989-01-10 | Helix Technology Corporation | Remote recondenser with intermediate temperature heat sink |
JP2821241B2 (en) * | 1990-06-08 | 1998-11-05 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Cryostat with liquefaction refrigerator |
JPH076664U (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1995-01-31 | 株式会社超伝導センサ研究所 | Cryogenic cooling device |
DE19720677C1 (en) * | 1997-05-16 | 1998-10-22 | Spectrospin Ag | NMR measuring device with cooled measuring head |
CN2641776Y (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2004-09-15 | 核工业西南物理研究院 | High-temp. superconductive magnet and material cooling device |
DE102004053973B3 (en) * | 2004-11-09 | 2006-07-20 | Bruker Biospin Ag | NMR spectrometer with refrigerator cooling |
-
2006
- 2006-10-31 DE DE102006051880A patent/DE102006051880A1/en not_active Withdrawn
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- 2007-10-31 US US12/447,737 patent/US8291725B2/en active Active
- 2007-10-31 CN CN2007800406314A patent/CN101536123B/en active Active
- 2007-10-31 EP EP07819508.8A patent/EP2084722B1/en active Active
- 2007-10-31 WO PCT/EP2007/009476 patent/WO2008052777A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-10-31 JP JP2009535025A patent/JP5306216B2/en active Active
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CN101536123A (en) | 2009-09-16 |
EP2084722A1 (en) | 2009-08-05 |
US20100281888A1 (en) | 2010-11-11 |
CN101536123B (en) | 2012-02-22 |
WO2008052777A1 (en) | 2008-05-08 |
DE102006051880A1 (en) | 2008-05-08 |
JP5306216B2 (en) | 2013-10-02 |
JP2010508666A (en) | 2010-03-18 |
US8291725B2 (en) | 2012-10-23 |
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