Integrated cooling circuit for use with a superconducting magnet

A cryogenic cooling system, comprising:

• a superconducting magnet comprising a set of magnet coils disposed on a cylindrical coil support structure;
• a bucking coil superconducting magnet comprising a set of bucking coils on a cylindrical bucking coil support structure, wherein the bucking coil support structure is radially offset from and external to the cylindrical coil support structure;
• and
• a cooling system configured to cool at least the set of magnet coils, the cooling system has an operational mode and a pre-cooling mode, wherein the cooling system comprises:
• a recondensor configured to recondense cryogen from vapor to liquid;
• a first line configured to allow cryogen to be added to the cooling system and connecting to the recondensor, wherein a first end of the first line is outside of a vacuum vessel;
• a storage vessel in fluid communication with the recondensor and configured to hold cryogen;
• a plurality of bucking coil cooling tubes in fluid communication with the storage vessel and configured to cool the set of bucking coils;
• a bucking return line configured to convey cryogen from the plurality of bucking coil tubes to one of the recondensor or the storage vessel;
• a second line in fluid communication with the bucking coil cooling tubes, wherein a first end of the second line is outside of the vacuum vessel;
• a bypass line fluidly connecting the second line and the first line;
• a mode selector valve provided on the bypass line;
• a first valve provided on the first line;
• and
• a second valve provided on the second line;
• wherein in the pre-cooling mode the mode selector valve is closed, the first valve is open, and the second valve is open so that cryogen flows in through one of the first line or the second line, through the bucking coil cooling tubes, the bucking return line, and one of the storage vessel or recondensor, and out through the other of the first line or the second line;
• and
• wherein the cryogenic cooling system further comprises:
• a plurality of cooling tubes in fluid communication with the storage vessel and configured to cool the set of magnet coils during operation;
• a return line in fluid communication configured to convey cryogen from the plurality of cooling tubes to the recondensor;
• and
• wherein, when the cryogenic cooling system is in the pre-cooling mode, cryogen does not flow through the return line or plurality of cooling tubes.

A method for cooling a superconducting magnet, comprising:

• in a pre-cooling phase, closing a mode selector valve that directly or indirectly controls flow of cryogen from a first line to a second line;
• opening a second valve and a first valve that control flow of cryogen through the second line and the first line respectively;
• flowing cryogen from the one of the first line or the second line to the other of first line or the second line through one or both of a plurality of cooling tubes for cooling a set of magnet coils or a plurality of bucking coil cooling tubes for cooling a set of bucking coils;
• and
• in an operational cooling phase, opening the mode selector valve and closing the second valve and the first valve;
• flowing cryogen from a storage vessel through the plurality of cooling tubes and a return line to a recondensor;
• and
• flowing cryogen from the storage vessel through the plurality of bucking coil cooling tubes and a bucking return line to the recondensor;
• and
• wherein the mode selector valve is positioned on the return line between where the second line connects to the return line and where the bucking return line connects to the return line, and wherein, when the cryogenic cooling system is in the pre-cooling phase, cryogen does not flow through the bucking return line or plurality of bucking coil cooling tubes.