Polarized gas accumulators and heating jackets and associated gas collection and thaw methods and polarized gas products
AssigneeMedi-Physics, Inc.
InventorsBastiaan Driehuys, David Zollinger, Daniel Deaton, K. C. Hasson, Alan Langhorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of collecting, thawing, and extending the useful polarized life of frozen polarized gases include heating a portion of the flow path and/or directly liquefying the frozen gas during thawing. A polarized noble gas product with an extended polarized life product is also included. Associated apparatus such as an accumulator and heating jacket for collecting, storing, and transporting polarized noble gases include a secondary flow channel which provides heat to a portion of the collection path during accumulation and during thawing.
Claims44
A cryogenic accumulator for collecting polarized noble gases in a buffer gas mixture, comprising:
- a primary flow channel having opposing first and second ends configured to direct a gas mixture comprising polarized gas therethrough, said primary flow channel having an inlet flow path and an exit flow path associated therewith;
- an outer sleeve positioned around said primary flow channel, said outer sleeve having a closed end defining a collection chamber positioned below said primary flow channel second end;
- and
- a secondary flow channel positioned intermediate of said primary flow channel and said outer sleeve, said secondary flow channel having a fluid inlet and outlet region associated therewith, said secondary flow channel having a closed end positioned in close proximity to said primary flow channel second end, wherein said secondary flow channel is operably associated with said primary flow channel,
- wherein said primary flow channel inlet flow path is in fluid communication with and separate from said primary flow channel exit flow path, and wherein said primary flow channel inlet flow path terminates into said collection chamber and said exit flow path originates proximate said collection chamber so that, in operation, the polarized gas mixture travels first through said inlet flow path, then into said collection chamber such that residual gases from the polarized gas mixture are directed out of said chamber and into said exit flow path.
A heating jacket for a refrigerated accumulator, comprising:
- an outer wall having opposing first and second ends;
- an inner wall having opposing first and second ends, said inner wall being spaced apart from said outer wall, wherein said inner wall is configured to be in close proximity to a polarized gas collection path;
- a bottom sealed to each of said outer and inner wall second ends;
- a top sealed to each of said outer and inner wall first ends, wherein said top, bottom, and inner and outer walls define at least one enclosed fluid circulation channel therebetween;
- a fluid inlet in communication with said circulation channel;
- a fluid vent configured in communication with said circulation channel;
- a heat source comprising a gas, wherein said fluid inlet and vent are configured to allow flow of the gas in said circulation channel.
An accumulator for collecting a polarized gas, comprising:
- a primary flow channel having opposing inlet and exit ends, said exit end configured as a flow nozzle, wherein said flow nozzle is defined by a reduced cross-sectional size along said exit end of said primary flow channel relative to said primary flow channel cross-sectional size upstream thereof, and wherein said inlet end is detachably connected to a polarized gas collection path;
- and
- an outer sleeve including a collection reservoir aligned with and positioned adjacent to said flow nozzle.
An accumulator for collecting a polarized gas, comprising:
- a primary flow channel having opposing inlet and exit ends, said exit end configured as a flow nozzle, wherein said inlet end is detachably connected to a polarized gas collection path;
- an outer sleeve including a collection reservoir aligned with and positioned adjacent to said flow nozzle;
- and
- a heat source positioned intermediate of said primary flow channel and said outer sleeve before said collection chamber, said heat source arranged to provide heat to said flow nozzle, wherein said heat source comprises an enclosed heating jacket positioned inside of and spaced-apart from said outer sleeve.
An accumulator for collecting a polarized gas, comprising:
- a primary flow channel having opposing inlet and exit ends, said exit end configured as a flow nozzle, wherein said inlet end is detachably connected to a polarized gas collection path;
- an outer sleeve including a collection reservoir aligned with and positioned adjacent to said flow nozzle;
- and
- a heat source positioned intermediate of said primary flow channel and said outer sleeve before said collection chamber, said heat source arranged to provide heat to said flow nozzle, wherein said heat source includes a conduit for directing a flow of a predetermined gas to said flow nozzle.
A cryogenic accumulator container with a heating jacket configured to direct warming fluid proximate to but separate from flowable polarized gas mixtures during operation when the cryogenic accumulator container is exposed to a cooling source so as to facilitate the accumulation of polarized gas in a substantially frozen state therein, comprising:
- a polarized gas flow channel having a downwardly extending flow inlet path ending into a closed end collection segment at a bottom portion of said accumulator container and an exhaust path separate from said flow inlet path, wherein in operation, said exhaust path is configured to direct residual gases separated from the polarized gas mixture out of said accumulator container and upwardly away from said closed end collection segment, said exhaust path being positioned separate from said flow inlet path and proximate to an outer perimeter of said accumulator container;
- and
- a secondary fluid flow channel positioned intermediate said flow inlet path and said exhaust path such that it extends proximate to at least a portion of the length of said polarized gas flow inlet path above said closed end collection segment, wherein said secondary fluid flow channel is in fluid isolation of said polarized gas flow inlet path and configured to heat a portion of said polarized gas flow channel inlet path above said collection segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.