Cooling system for superconducting magnet

A method of cooling a load with a system having a heat exchanger coupled to a cryocooler coldhead and the load via a conduit circuit having a refrigerant circulating therethrough, the method comprising:

• a) providing a first and a second reservoir, each connected within the conduit, each holding at least a portion of the refrigerant;
• b) heating the first reservoir to cause the refrigerant to flow from the first reservoir through the load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the second reservoir, said heating of the first reservoir continuing until the refrigerant is substantially depleted from the first reservoir;
• and
• c) heating the second reservoir to cause the refrigerant to flow from the second reservoir through the load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the first reservoir, said heating of the second reservoir continuing until the refrigerant is substantially depleted from the second reservoir.

A system for cooling a load to cryogenic temperatures comprising:

• a conduit circuit, connected to the superconducting load and within which a refrigerant circulates;
• a heat exchanger, connected within the conduit circuit and to a cryocooler coldhead, the heat exchanger disposed remotely from the load;
• a first and a second reservoir, each connected within the conduit, each holding at least a portion of the refrigerant;
• a heater configured to independently heat the first and second reservoirs, the heater operating, in a first mode, to heat the first reservoir, thereby causing the refrigerant to flow from the first reservoir through the superconducting load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the second reservoir, and operating, in a second mode, to heat the second reservoir to cause the refrigerant to flow from the second reservoir through the superconducting load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the first reservoir.