Superconducting magnet split cryostat cryogen ride-through reserve
OwnerPhillip W. Eckels, David Jonathan Chalk +2inventors
InventorsPhillip W. Eckels, David Jonathan Chalk, Thomas Joseph, Joseph Anthony Schillinger
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Abstract
An open architecture recondensing superconducting magnet utilizing an upper and lower cryogen vessel connected by a passageway which extends above the bottom of upper cryogen vessel to discontinue the flow of liquid cryogen through the passageway to reserve liquid cryogen in the upper cryogen vessel when the cryogen level falls to provide an increased ride-through period in the event of a depleting liquid cryogen supply due to failure of the cryogen gas recondenser. A signal is provided to indicate the need to correct the failure.
Claims18
An open architecture recondensing cryogen superconducting magnet including an upper and lower vertically spaced cryogen vessel with the upper cryogen vessel spaced from and overlying said lower cryogen vessel each including superconducting magnet coils and a liquid cryogen supply to provide a magnetic field therebetween, apparatus to prolong the period of time of superconducting ride-through operation comprising:
- a recondenser to recondense cryogen gas back to liquid cryogen connected to said upper cryogen vessel to replenish said liquid helium;
- and
- at least one passageway connecting the interior of said upper cryogen vessel and the interior of said lower cryogen vessel;
- said passageway including an opening at a preselected height above the bottom of said upper cryogen vessel;
- said passageway enabling the transfer of said liquid cryogen from said upper cryogen vessel to said lower cryogen vessel as long as the level of said liquid cryogen in said upper vessel is above said opening after which gravity flow between the upper vessel and lower vessel is discontinued through said passageway;
- said height being above the level of liquid cryogen below which said superconducting operation of said magnet coils in said upper cryogen vessel quenches;
- whereby the ride-through period of continued operation of said superconducting magnet in both the upper and lower cryogen vessel in the event of failure of the liquid helium recondensing can be extended by discontinuing said transfer of said liquid cryogen to said lower cryogen vessel at a level determined by the said preselected height.
An open architecture liquid helium cooled superconducting magnet comprising:
- an upper helium vessel including superconducting magnet coils;
- a lower helium vessel vertically separated from said upper helium vessel with each including superconducting magnet coils to provide a magnetic field in the space therebetween;
- at least one upright transfer tube extending down from said upper helium vessel to said lower helium vessel providing helium gravity flow from said upper helium vessel to said lower helium vessel;
- liquid helium replenishment means for said helium vessels connected to said upper vessel;
- said tube extending into said upper helium vessel above the bottom of said upper helium vessel to allow helium flow from said upper helium vessel to said lower helium vessel only when the level of helium in said upper vessel is above the upper end of said tube;
- wherein the height of said tube above said bottom of said upper helium vessel discontinues helium flow between the vessels and holds back a reservoir of helium in said upper helium vessel sufficient to extend the ride-through period of time of superconducting operation of said magnet during periods in which said liquid helium replenishment means ceases and said helium level in said upper helium vessel falls below said upper end of said tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.