Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B5/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity
  • F25B5/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity arranged in parallel
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
  • F25B9/14—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the cycle used, e.g. Stirling cycle
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
  • F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
  • F25B2400/06—Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
  • F25B2400/17—Re-condensers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a cryogenic cooling device and method.
• the invention more particularly relates to a cryogenic cooling device comprising a main cryo-cooler comprising a cold head disposed in a first selectively evacuated chamber, a working fluid reservoir disposed in a second selectively evacuated chamber, a control member. cooling being disposed in the tank in heat exchange with the working fluid, the cold head of the main cryo-cooler being thermally connected with a heat exchanger, itself fluidly connected to the tank via pipes forming a first circulation loop for the working fluid, the pipes passing from the first to the second enclosure.
• An object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of the prior art noted above.
• the device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that the selectively vacuum volumes of the first and second enclosures are independent and in that the device comprises a secondary cryo-cooler comprising a cold head disposed in a third chamber selectively evacuated, the cold head of the secondary cryocooler being thermally connected with a heat exchanger, itself fluidly connected to the reservoir via pipes forming a second circulation loop for the working fluid, and in that the selectively evacuated volume of the third enclosure is independent of the selectively vacuum volumes of the first and second enclosures.
• embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features:
• At least one of the first and third enclosures is sealed with at least one selectively removable cover
• At least one selectively removable cover is arranged in the lower part of the enclosure, adjacent to the cold head,
• At least one cover is sealingly mounted on the body of the enclosure via fixing screws,
• the device comprises, around the conduits passing from the first to the second chamber, vacuum barriers ensuring a separation of the selectively vacuum volumes of the first and second enclosures, the vacuum barriers being arranged in at least one tubular portion forming a junction between the first and second speakers,
• the device comprises, around the conduits passing from the third to the second chamber, vacuum barriers ensuring a separation of the selectively evacuated volumes of the third and second enclosures, the vacuum barriers being arranged in at least one tubular portion forming a junction between the third and the second speakers,
• the cold head of the cryo-cooler is associated with a heat exchanger forming a condenser for the working fluid
• the cold head of the main cryo-cooler is connected to the tank via two pipes whose upstream ends are connected to a hermetic volume placed under the cold head of the main cryo-cooler, the downstream ends of the pipes being connected to an upper end of the tank; via a vertical or substantially vertical portion,
• the cold head of the secondary cryo-cooler is connected to the tank via two pipes whose upstream ends are connected to a hermetic volume placed under the cold head of the secondary cryo-cooler and the downstream ends are connected to an upper end of the tank via a vertical or substantially vertical portion,
• At least one of: the main cryocooler and the secondary cryo-cooler is arranged in a vertical configuration
• the vacuum barriers comprise, for example, at least one of the following organs: a so-called “simple cone” system, a so-called “double cone” system,
• a heater for example an electric heater, is mounted on at least one heat exchanger of a cold head of a cryo-cooler, the enclosure or enclosures are evacuated with air at a pressure of between 10 -3 and 10 -6 mbar,
• the member to be cooled comprises a coil or superconductive electric cables
• the device comprises several secondary cryo-coolers,
• the secondary cryo-cooler or one of the secondary cryo-coolers is in operation and participates in cooling the organ at the same time as the main cryo-cooler,
• the working fluid comprises or consists of at least one of: helium, hydrogen, neon, nitrogen, argon, oxygen, methane, krypton, Xenon, CnHm, ammonia, CFC, HCFC, HFC or any other refrigerant,
• the fluid loop can use a buffer volume to limit the pressure rise of the loop when the system is at room temperature.
• the invention also relates to a method for low temperature cooling of an organ via a cryogenic cooling device according to any one of the above characteristics or below, in which the main cryocooler is used for cooling the organ the first chamber and the second chamber being evacuated, the secondary cryocooler being selectively shut down or in operation while the main cryocooler is in operation.
• embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features:
• the main cryocooler is stopped and, simultaneously or in advance, the secondary cryocooler is started to cool the organ, the third chamber being evacuated or kept under vacuum,
• the cold head of the frozen cryocooler is warmed to an ambient temperature via at least one of the following steps: by spontaneous natural warming ; by controlled active warming; by forced circulation of gas at ambient temperature in the cryocooler enclosure or around the exchanger or exchangers via a coiled tube or any other device; by putting the volume of the cryocooler enclosure at atmospheric pressure,
• the method comprises a step of repairing or maintaining one of the two cryo-coolers while the other cryo-cooler is in operation and cooling the organ, the method comprising: - stopping or maintaining the stop of the operation of the cryo-cooler intended to undergo repair or maintenance,
• the invention may also relate to any alternative device or method comprising any combination of the above or below features.
• the cryogenic cooling device comprises a main cryo-cooler 18 having, typically, a cold head 19.
• the main cryo-cooler 18 (and in particular the cold head 19) is disposed in a first enclosure 16 selectively evacuated.
• the cold head 19 is provided for example with a heat exchanger 17 to ensure liquefaction of a working fluid.
• the exchanger 17 is for example screwed by screws 20 at the base of the cold head 19.
• the main cryo-cooler 18 delimits a volume 21 for the liquefied working fluid, this volume being connected via two upper 31 and lower 30 lines respectively, to a reservoir 9 of storage of liquefied working fluid.
• This liquefied working fluid storage reservoir 9 contains the organ 8 to be cooled by heat exchange (direct or indirect) with the liquefied working fluid.
• the storage tank 9 is housed in a second enclosure 10 selectively evacuated independently from the first enclosure 16. That is to say that the conduits 30, 31 transit from the first 16 to the second enclosure 10 through tubular portions 23 forming junctions between the first 16 and the second 10 enclosures.
• the second enclosure 10 rests for example on the ground via a base and is for example sealed in the upper part by a removable cover 1 1 (for example via screws 14).
• the independence of the voids within the volumes of the first 16 and second 10 enclosures is achieved for example via one or 40 vacuum barriers respectively disposed around the conduits 30, 31, inside the tubular portions 23 forming the junctions.
• the vacuum barriers 40 may comprise any known system such as a double cone.
• the device comprises a secondary cryocooler 1, for example of the same type as main cooler 18.
• the secondary cryo-cooler 1 has a structure equivalent to that described above. That is to say, the cold head 7 of the secondary cryo-cooler 1 is disposed in a third enclosure 4 selectively evacuated. As before, the cold head 7 is provided with a heat exchanger 2 to ensure liquefaction of a working fluid.
• the exchanger 2 is screwed by screws 5 at the base of the cold head 7.
• the secondary cryo-cooler 1 delimits a volume 121 for the liquefied working fluid, this volume 121 being connected via two upper and lower lines 131 131 to the same reservoir 9 of storage of liquefied working fluid.
• the second enclosure 10 is selectively evacuated independently from the third enclosure 4.
• the conduits 130, 131 pass from the third 4 to the second enclosure 10 through tubular portions 23 forming junctions between the third 4 and the second 10 speakers.
• the independence of the voids within the volumes of the third 4 and second 10 enclosures is achieved via one or 40 vacuum barriers respectively disposed around the conduits 130, 131, inside the tubular portions 23 forming the junctions.
• the speakers 16, 10 and 4 are isolated from each other by barriers 40 to vacuum so as to be able to evacuate the different enclosure independently of each other.
• the device can be used to maintain the member 8 at a cryogenic temperature (for example 100 K).
• the member 8 to be maintained at cryogenic temperature may for example be a superconducting coil, a heat exchanger in heat exchange with another heat transfer fluid, or any other suitable member.
• the member 8 to be cooled bathes in a bath of liquid nitrogen at a temperature of 100K for example.
• the heat generated by the member 8 evaporates part of the liquid nitrogen from the bath 9.
• This nitrogen gas travels upwards via the upper line 31 of the main cryo-cooler 18.
• the nitrogen gas is liquefied again.
• the exchanger 17 is maintained at a temperature slightly below 100K by the cryo-cooler 18 which is in operation.
• the cooler head 19 of the main cryo-cooler 18 extracts heat at the adjacent exchanger 17.
• the liquid nitrogen produced falls by gravity into the volume 21 located under the exchanger 17 and then travels downwards via the lower pipe 30 to the bath in the reservoir 9. This process occurs continuously in a working loop for the working fluid (nitrogen in this example).
• a heater for example electric, (not shown) can be mounted on the heat exchanger 17 of the cold head 19 of the cryo-cooler 18 main to regulate its temperature.
• the secondary cryocooler 1 preferably has a structure and operation identical to that of the main cryo-cooler 18.
• the secondary cryocooler 1 is preferably used in reserve. When the main cryocooler 18 is operating, the secondary cryo-cooler 1 is stopped and the temperature of its cold head 7 is close to the ambient temperature. The working fluid contained in the exchanger 2, the pipes 130, 131 is in the gaseous state.
• the gas in the ducts 130, 131 forms, by thermal stratification, gaseous thermal plugs which limit the heat transfer between the secondary cryocooler 1 at standstill and the reservoir 9.
• the secondary cryo-cooler 1 can be started, for example automatically.
• the pressure of the first chamber 16 can be raised from vacuum to atmospheric pressure, for example by means of a valve (not shown) allowing a selective communication between the interior volume of the enclosure 16 and the outside atmosphere .
• the first 16 and the third 4 enclosures are sealed by at least one insulating cap and selectively removable allowing direct access to the cryo-cooler, including its cold head.
• the first 16 and the third 4 speakers are mechanically connected to the second speaker and are raised above the floor.
• the removable cover 15 is for example placed in the lower part of each first 16 and the third 4 enclosure, adjacent to the cold head 19, 7.
• Each cover 15 is for example mounted on the body of its enclosure 16, 4 via fixing screws 22 or any other suitable system.
• the cover 15 is removed.
• the operator can then dismantle the exchanger 17, for example by removing fixing screws 20 on the cold head 19.
• the flange 12 of the cryo-cooler 18 can then be disconnected from the enclosure 16 (for example by removing screws 13 fixing).
• the cryo-cooler can then be removed for replacement or maintenance.
• a new cryocooler or repaired cryo-cooler can then be reinstalled.
• the flange 12 is fixed again to the enclosure 16.
• the screws 20 for fixing the exchanger 17 on the cold head 19 are replaced.
• the cover 15 is also reassembled.
• the vacuum is then again created in the first chamber 16, for example by means of a vacuum pump via a valve (not shown).
• the main cryo-cooler 18 repaired or changed can then be started in case of malfunction or maintenance of the secondary cryo-cooler 1 which present ensures the production of cold.
• the procedure for replacing or maintaining the other cryocooler may be identical to that described above.
• Cryo-coolers can for example operate according to a gifford mac mahon cycle.
• Cryo-cooler 1, 18 can be isolated using a super-insulation type multi-layer or single-layer.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Compressors, Vaccum Pumps And Other Relevant Systems (AREA)
• Containers, Films, And Cooling For Superconductive Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (9)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2011
  • 2011-05-09 FR FR1153941A patent/FR2975176B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-04-20 CN CN201280022463.7A patent/CN103518109A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-04-20 JP JP2014509787A patent/JP2014513267A/ja active Pending
  • 2012-04-20 WO PCT/FR2012/050864 patent/WO2012172224A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2012-04-20 KR KR1020137029395A patent/KR20140037073A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-04-20 EP EP12722447.5A patent/EP2707660A2/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-04-20 US US14/116,576 patent/US20140069116A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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