US5848532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling system for superconducting magnet
Assignee: American Superconductor Corp
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Filing: 1997-04-23
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Granted: 1998-12-15
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Expires: 2017-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system is configured to control the flow of a refrigerant by controlling the rate at which the refrigerant is heated, thereby providing an efficient and reliable approach to cooling a load (e.g., magnets, rotors). The cooling system includes a conduit circuit connected to the load and within which a refrigerant circulates; a heat exchanger, connected within the conduit circuit and 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. In a first mode, the heater heats the first reservoir, thereby causing the refrigerant to flow from the first reservoir through the load and heat exchanger, via the conduit circuit and into the second reservoir. In a second mode, the heater heats 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce B. Gamble
- 👤 Ahmed Sidi-Yekhlef
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:32
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B25/00; F25B25/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A cooling system for circulating a refrigerant flowing through a heat exchanger which is connected to a cryocooler coldhead, the cooling system delivering the refrigerant to a load and comprising: a conduit circuit connected to the load and within which the refrigerant circulates; 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 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 load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the first reservoir.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cooling system for circulating a refrigerant flowing through a heat exchanger which is connected to a cryocooler coldhead, the cooling system delivering the refrigerant to a load and comprising: a conduit circuit connected to the load and within which the refrigerant circulates; 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 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 load and heat exchanger via the conduit circuit and into the first reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a first valve connected within the conduit circuit, the first valve having an input coupled to the first and the second reservoirs and an output coupled to the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising a second valve connected within the conduit circuit, the second valve having an input coupled to an output of the heat exchanger and first reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 3 further comprising a third valve connected within the conduit circuit, the third valve having an input coupled to an input of the heat exchanger and the first and second reservoirs, and the conduit circuit includes a venting backup line coupled between the heat exchanger, the third valve and the first and second reservoirs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the heater comprises a pair of heating elements, each heating element associated with a respective one of the first and second reservoirs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a cold box which encloses the heat exchanger and the first and the second reservoirs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit circuit includes vacuum insulated transfer lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the load is a rotor of a superconducting motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of helium, neon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the refrigerant is neon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the refrigerant is a fluorocarbon liquid cryogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the liquid cryogen is a fluoroalkane.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
150 words
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.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
150 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising repeating steps b) and c) in alternating manner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
143 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the system further comprises a first valve and a second valve connected within the conduit circuit, the first valve having an input coupled to the first and the second reservoirs and an output coupled to the load, the second valve having an input coupled to an output of the heat exchanger and first reservoir, the method further comprising: prior to step b), actuating the first valve to allow the refrigerant to flow from the first reservoir to the load and actuating the second valve to allow the refrigerant to flow into the second reservoir from the load; and prior to step c), actuating the first valve to allow the refrigerant to flow from the second reservoir to the load and actuating the second valve to allow the refrigerant to flow into the first reservoir from the load.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises a third valve connected within the conduit circuit, the third valve having an input coupled to an input of the heat exchanger and the first and second reservoirs, and the conduit circuit includes a venting backup line coupled between the third valve and the first reservoir and second reservoirs, the method comprising: prior to step b), actuating the third valve to allow the refrigerant to flow from the first reservoir to the load; and prior to step c), actuating the third valve to allow the refrigerant to flow from the second reservoir to the load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the refrigerant is selected from a group consisting of helium, neon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, a fluorocarbon and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising performing steps a), b) and c) at a pressure level substantially equal to one atmosphere.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising performing steps a), b) and c) at a pressure level exceeding one atmosphere.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
151 words
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.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
151 words
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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |