Polarized gas accumulators and heating jackets and associated gas collection methods 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.
Claims20
A method for collecting polarized noble gases, comprising the steps of:
- directing a gas mixture comprising a polarized noble gas and a second gas along a collection path and into an accumulator;
- receiving the gas mixture into the accumulator positioned in the collection path, the accumulator having an inlet channel, a collection reservoir, and an exit channel;
- cooling the collection reservoir to temperatures below the freezing point of the polarized noble gas;
- trapping polarized noble gas in a substantially frozen state in the collection reservoir;
- passing the remainder of the gas mixture including the second gas into the exit channel;
- and
- heating a portion of the inlet channel in the accumulator to facilitate the flow of the gas mixture therethrough.
A method of thawing frozen polarized gas, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sealed container having an interior flow path and a collection chamber, the collection chamber holding frozen polarized gas therein;
- exposing the frozen polarized gas to a magnetic field;
- heating a portion of the interior flow path adjacent the collection chamber by circulating a fluid or fluid mixture in a chamber positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the interior flow path of the sealed container such that the circulating fluid is in fluid isolation from the frozen polarized gas;
- and
- heating the exterior of the sealed container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.