System and method for melting ice in an exhaust tube of a container holding helium
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorPeter John Feenan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and a method for melting ice that has formed in an exhaust tube operably coupled to a container holding helium are provided. The exhaust tube is configured to exhaust pressurized helium from the container. The method includes determining when a pressure level in the container is greater than a threshold pressure level. The method further includes applying heat energy to the exhaust tube to melt ice in the exhaust tube to thereby allow pressurized helium to exit the container through the exhaust tube.
Claims20
A method for melting ice that has formed in an exhaust tube operably coupled to a container holding helium, the exhaust tube configured to exhaust pressurized helium from the container to ambient atmosphere, comprising:
- determining when a pressure level in the container is greater than a threshold pressure level;
- and
- applying heat energy to the exhaust tube to melt ice in the exhaust tube to thereby allow pressurized helium to exit the container through the exhaust tube to ambient atmosphere.
A system for melting ice that has formed in an exhaust tube operably coupled to a container holding helium, the exhaust tube configured to exhaust pressurized helium from the container, comprising:
- a conduit having first, second, third, and fourth portions;
- and
- a valve operatively coupled to the fourth portion of the conduit, the first portion being disposed in the container and communicating the pressurized helium from the container to the second portion, the second portion being disposed external of the container and transferring heat energy to the helium and communicating the helium to the third portion, the third portion being disposed in the container proximate the exhaust tube and transferring heat energy from the helium to the exhaust tube to melt the ice in the exhaust tube, the third portion communicating the helium to the fourth portion, the valve exhausting the helium from the fourth portion when the pressure level of the helium is greater than a threshold pressure level.
A system for melting ice that has formed in an exhaust tube operably coupled to a container holding helium, the exhaust tube configured to exhaust pressurized helium from the container, comprising:
- a conduit extending through a wall of the container, the conduit having a first end communicating with an interior of the container and a second end disposed outside of the container;
- a valve operatively coupled to the second end of the conduit, the valve being configured to open when a pressure level within the container is greater than a threshold pressure level;
- an electrical switch operably coupled to the valve, the electrical switch being activated when the valve opens to transfer a signal to a controller;
- and
- the controller configured to energize a heating coil disposed proximate the exhaust tube in response to receiving the signal to melt the ice in the exhaust tube.
A method for melting ice that has formed in an exhaust tube operably coupled to a container holding helium, the exhaust tube configured to exhaust pressurized helium from the container to ambient atmosphere, comprising:
- determining when a pressure level in the container is greater than a threshold pressure level;
- and
- applying heat energy to the exhaust tube to melt ice in the exhaust tube to thereby allow pressurized helium to exit the container through the exhaust tube, wherein applying the heat energy comprises routing pressurized helium from the container through a conduit having first, second, third, and fourth portions, the first portion communicating the helium from the container to the second portion, the second portion being disposed external of the container and transferring heat energy to the helium and communicating the helium to the third portion, the third portion being disposed in the container proximate the exhaust tube and transferring heat energy from the helium to the exhaust tube to melt the ice in the exhaust tube, the third portion communicating the helium to the fourth portion communicating with ambient atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.