JP4398956B2 - Superconducting magnet - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid helium immersion cooling superconducting magnet.

  There are two types of superconducting magnets in which a superconducting coil is immersed in liquid helium for cooling and the liquid helium evaporated by intrusion heat or the like is opened to the atmosphere, and the type is recondensed by a refrigerator.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a superconducting magnet adopting a recondensing type.

  The superconducting magnet shown in FIG. 15 is immersed in the liquid helium 2 in the helium vessel 4 so that the superconducting coil 1 is accommodated, and a radiation shield 5 is provided so as to surround the helium vessel 4. Is reduced. A vacuum vessel 6 is disposed so as to surround the helium vessel 4 and the radiation shield 5.

  The vacuum vessel 6 is equipped with a refrigerator 3, and the first stage portion of the refrigerator 3 is brought into thermal contact with the radiation shield 5, and the second stage portion is brought into thermal contact with the helium container 4 to give cold heat. ing.

  In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a liquid level measuring means for measuring the liquid level of liquid helium in the helium container 4.

  In such a superconducting magnet, the radiation shield 5 is cooled to about 50K by the first stage of the refrigerator 3. The superconducting coil 1 is cooled by liquid helium 2 and held at about 4K.

  Further, the liquid helium 2 evaporates due to intrusion heat such as heat conduction and radiant heat from the support material of the helium container 4, and the gas helium 7 is condensed at a temperature at which the gas helium 7 is recondensed and returned to the liquid helium 2. It is necessary to contact a part having a lower temperature (about 4K). This contact portion is hereinafter referred to as a helium condensation surface.

  For this reason, conventionally, as shown in the figure, the refrigerator 3 and the helium container 4 are directly thermally connected, and cold is applied so that the inner surface of the helium container 4 becomes a helium condensation surface to recondense the helium gas. ing.

  On the other hand, FIG. 16 shows an example of a conventional superconducting magnet and a protection circuit.

  The superconducting coil 1 has oxide superconducting current leads 9 connected to both ends thereof, and is housed inside the cryostat. The oxide superconducting current lead 9 is led out of the cryostat and connected to an excitation power source 10 for exciting the superconducting coil 1 via a circuit breaker 11. The excitation power source 10 and the circuit breaker 11 are connected to the controller 12. It is connected.

  As a protection circuit, a series circuit of a diode 13 and a discharge resistor 14 installed in the cryostat in parallel with the superconducting coil 1 is connected.

  In such a superconducting magnet protection circuit, when quenching of the superconducting coil 1 is detected, the circuit breaker 11 is disconnected by a signal from the control device 12, and the current flowing from the excitation power supply 10 is commutated to the protection circuit. To do. The reason why the oxide superconducting current lead 9 is not incorporated in the protection circuit is that the oxide superconducting current lead 9 may be quenched, and in that case, it cannot be energized continuously. It is because it is not suitable.

  In the superconducting magnet having the above structure, the capacity of the refrigerator 3 has a strong dependence on the temperature as shown in FIG. 14, and the cooling capacity tends to deteriorate rapidly as the temperature decreases.

  However, since the conventional helium vessel 4 is made of a material having low thermal conductivity such as austenitic stainless steel, the refrigerator 3 is brought into thermal contact with the helium vessel 4 so that the inner surface of the helium vessel 4 is covered. When the condensation surface is used, a large temperature difference ΔT is generated there. As can be seen from FIG. 14, the capacity of the refrigerator 3 is reduced correspondingly with respect to the temperature difference ΔT, so that there is a drawback that the capacity of the refrigerator 3 is not fully utilized.

  In FIG. 15, the positional relationship between the refrigerator 3 and the helium container 4 is relatively shifted between the time of assembly of the apparatus and the completion of cooling due to the difference in thermal contraction rate. Since they are in thermal contact with each other, if they are fixed so that there is no deviation in their positional relationship, a large load is applied to the fixed portion, which may cause performance deterioration of the refrigerator 3 and structural destruction.

  Further, in FIG. 15, the internal pressure of the helium container 4 is determined by the balance between the amount of intrusion heat and the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 3, but when it becomes below atmospheric pressure, the atmosphere is sucked into the helium container 4. Freezing and causing clogging of piping.

  In FIG. 15, when the superconducting coil 1 is excited, if the liquid amount of the liquid helium 2 is small, the liquid helium 2 may be quenched, so it is important to grasp the liquid level. Accordingly, although the liquid level measuring means 8 for measuring the liquid level is usually provided, the heat load of the liquid level measuring means 8 is as large as the capacity of the refrigerator 3, so that one minute measurement, one hour The heat load is reduced by intermittent operation such as rest.

  However, this operation method is sufficient because there is almost no change in the case of a normal liquid level, but if there is a large amount of heat temporarily, such as during excitation and demagnetization, the liquid level may change suddenly. If the excitation / demagnetization operation is performed during the measurement interval of the surface measurement, that is, when the liquid level measurement is not performed, the liquid level height cannot be monitored.

  On the other hand, in the superconducting magnet protection circuit shown in FIG. 16, it is not preferable in terms of reliability to use a semiconductor element such as the diode 13 as a component of the protection circuit in the cryostat. When any failure occurred, the cryostat had to be disassembled and replaced.

  In the superconducting magnet in which the superconducting coil 1 is disposed inside the cryostat, a current introduction terminal for energizing the superconducting coil 1 is installed on the outer surface of the cryostat. However, since the current introduction terminal is cooled by conduction cooling from the inside, water drops are formed on the outer surface, and the ground insulation performance is deteriorated. When the excitation voltage is as low as several volts, it can be energized as it is, but when the excitation voltage becomes high, there is a risk of leakage.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above situations, and it aims at providing the superconducting magnet which can utilize the capability of a refrigerator effectively.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention constitutes a superconducting magnet by the following means.

The present invention includes a helium container in which liquid helium is stored, a superconducting coil disposed so as to be immersed in the liquid helium in the helium container, a radiation shield provided so as to surround the helium container, A vacuum container that surrounds the helium container and the radiation shield and is maintained in a vacuum; a refrigerator that is provided on the vacuum container side and that cools the gas helium evaporated in the radiation shield and the helium container; In the superconducting magnet, the liquid level measuring means for measuring the liquid level of the liquid helium in the helium container, the voltage measuring means for measuring the excitation voltage of the superconducting coil, and the measurement timing by these measuring means are controlled, The liquid level is measured by the liquid level measuring means at a preset time interval and measured by the voltage measuring means. And a control device for measuring the needed liquid level by the liquid level measuring means and for sensing the excitation voltage.

  According to the present invention, the atmosphere is not sucked into the helium container, and there is no occurrence of quenching due to the lack of liquid helium, so that it can be made highly safe, and thus the capacity of the refrigerator can be used effectively. Can do.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a helium vessel in which liquid helium 2 is stored and a cylindrical body 4 a is attached to an opening of an appropriate size opened in the upper surface portion. 1 is stored by being immersed in liquid helium.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a radiation shield provided so as to surround the helium container 4, and reference numeral 6 denotes a vacuum container in which the radiation shield 5 surrounding the helium container is arranged.

  On the other hand, 3 is a refrigerator equipped on the upper surface portion of the vacuum vessel 6, and this refrigerator 3 has a first stage portion and a second stage cold conductor. Then, the first-stage cold conductor is brought into thermal contact with the radiation shield 5, and the second-stage cold conductor is inserted into the cylinder 4 a on the helium vessel 4 side with the tip portion facing the helium vessel 4. The condenser rod 15 is in thermal contact. Since the condensing rod 15 is kept at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the gas helium 7 condenses (about 4K), the gas helium 7 is brought into thermal contact with this portion to give cold heat.

  In this case, the radiation shield 5 is cooled and held at about 50K by the one-stage cooling heat conductor of the refrigerator 3. Further, the condensing rod 15 is made of a high thermal conductivity material such as oxygen-free copper so that there is almost no temperature difference from the refrigerator 3.

  According to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration, the helium gas 7 in the helium vessel 4 and the contact portion thereof are kept below the condensation temperature of the liquid helium 2, and a condensing surface having a sufficient area is present in the helium vessel 4. Since it is obtained, the gas helium 7 evaporated by the intrusion heat is efficiently recondensed.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the head of the condensing rod 15 that is in thermal contact with the periphery of the opening of an appropriate size opened in the upper surface of the helium vessel 4 and the two steps of the refrigerator 3. An elastic body 16 such as a bellows capable of absorbing displacement due to a positional shift caused by a difference in thermal contraction rate between the refrigerator 3 and the helium container 4 is interposed between the condenser 3 and the helium container. 4 is fixed.

  According to the second embodiment having the above configuration, the elastic body 16 can absorb the positional deviation between the refrigerator 3 and the helium container 4 caused by the difference in thermal shrinkage. Will not trigger.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the flexible body 17 is interposed between the two-stage portion of the refrigerator 3 and the head of the condensing rod 15 inserted and held in the cylinder 4 a on the helium container 4 side. Is used to obtain thermal contact. The flexible body 17 is preferably made of an oxygen-free copper flat mesh wire or a thin plate, which is a high thermal conductivity material.

  Also in the third embodiment having the above configuration, the same operational effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted, and different points will be described here.

  In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, one end of the cylindrical convection preventing member 18 reaches the vicinity of the liquid surface of the liquid helium 2 in an opening of an appropriate size opened in the upper surface of the helium container 4. The condensing rod 15 inserted and held with the tip portion facing the convection preventing member 18 in the helium vessel 4 is brought into thermal contact with the cold conductor of the two-stage portion of the refrigerator 3. It is a thing.

  In the superconducting magnet having the above-described configuration, the temperature of the gas helium 7 is more easily recondensed into the liquid helium 2 as the temperature is closer to the condensation temperature, that is, the liquid temperature. On the other hand, in the gas helium 7, convection occurs due to the gas temperature distribution formed by the distribution of intrusion heat, and there is a possibility that warm gas flows near the condensing rod 15.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the convection preventing member 18 collects only the helium gas 7 near the liquid surface near the liquid temperature near the condensing rod 15, so that it can be efficiently recondensed.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of a superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG.

  In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a heater 19 is provided so as to be immersed in liquid helium inside the helium container 4, and the gas pressure is measured in the atmosphere of helium gas 7 inside the helium container 4. A pressure measuring means 20 is provided, the heater 19 is connected to a heater power source 21 via a lead wire led out of the vacuum vessel 6, and a measuring part of the pressure measuring means 20 is led out of the vacuum vessel 6 to supply the heater power source. 21 is connected to the pressure controller 22 together.

  In this case, the pressure controller 22 activates the heater power supply when the pressure measured by the pressure measuring means 20 becomes equal to or lower than a preset pressure, and heats the heater 19 until the preset pressure is reached. It is like that.

  According to the fifth embodiment having the above-described configuration, the heater 19 is heated to evaporate liquid helium, and the helium container 4 is adjusted so as not to fall below atmospheric pressure. A superconducting magnet can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a sixth embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG.

  In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, liquid level measuring means 8 for measuring the helium liquid level is provided inside the helium vessel 4, and the liquid level measurement signal is sent to the liquid level gauge 23 outside the vacuum vessel 6. In addition, both ends of the superconducting coil 1 are connected to an excitation power source 24 outside the vacuum vessel 6 and a voltmeter 25 for measuring the excitation voltage is provided. The liquid level gauge 23, the excitation power source 24, and the voltmeter 25 are provided. Are connected to the control device 26.

  Here, the control device 26 causes the liquid level measuring means 8 to measure the liquid level through the liquid level meter 23 at a preset time interval, and when the voltmeter 25 senses an excitation voltage, it responds accordingly. The liquid level measuring means 8 is operated. Further, if the liquid level measured by the liquid level measuring means 8 falls below a certain set value, an interlock signal can be sent to the excitation power source 24.

  According to the sixth embodiment having the above-described configuration, the liquid level measuring means 8 is intermittently operated to minimize the heat load in the helium vessel 4 and to automatically detect the excitation to detect the liquid level as needed. Can be measured, and quenching due to the lack of liquid helium 2 can be suppressed.

  FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG.

  In the seventh embodiment, the superconducting coil 1 has oxide superconducting current leads 9 connected to both ends thereof and housed inside the cryostat. The oxide superconducting current lead 9 is led out of the cryostat and is connected to an excitation power source 10 for exciting the superconducting coil 1 via a circuit breaker 11.

  The excitation power source 10 and the circuit breaker 11 are connected to the control device 12.

  As a protection circuit, one end of the auxiliary lead 27 is connected between both ends of the superconducting coil 1 and the oxide superconducting current lead 9, the other end is led out of the cryostat, and a discharge resistor 14 is connected between the leading terminals. Are connected to form a protection circuit.

  In such a superconducting magnet protection circuit, when a quench is detected, the circuit breaker disconnects the excitation circuit by a signal from the control device 12, and the current flowing from the excitation power supply 10 is commutated to the protection circuit. In the case of normal excitation, out of the current supplied from the excitation power supply 10, the protection circuit has a shunt current of I = V / R corresponding to the excitation voltage (V) and the discharge resistance 14 (R), and the discharge resistance 14 generates heat, but since the discharge resistor 14 is outside the cryostat, there is no particular problem.

  According to this embodiment, since the discharge resistor 14 can be installed outside the cryostat by connecting the auxiliary leads 27 to both ends of the superconducting coil 1, a semiconductor element such as a diode is installed inside the cryostat as in the prior art. This is not necessary and can be a highly reliable protection circuit.

  FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing an eighth embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and different points will be described here.

  In the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a current control unit 28 is connected in series with the discharge resistor 14 between the lead-out terminals of the auxiliary lead 27 led out of the cryostat to form a protection circuit, and the control device 12, the current control unit 28 can be controlled.

  In this case, the current control unit 28 is an element or a circuit that controls a current based on a signal from the control device 12, and is configured by a one-way current control element such as a thyristor.

  In the protection circuit for a superconducting magnet having the above-described configuration, when quenching is detected while the superconducting coil 1 is energized, the current control unit 28 is short-circuited by a signal from the control device 12. Thereafter, the circuit breaker 1 cuts off the excitation circuit by a signal from the control device 12, and the current flowing from the excitation power supply 10 to the superconducting coil 1 is commutated to the protection circuit, and the discharge resistor 14 of the discharge resistor 14 is the same as in the seventh embodiment. Energy is consumed by heat generation.

  According to the eighth embodiment, since the current control unit 28 is provided, the current is not shunted to the protection circuit during normal excitation. Therefore, the current flowing through the excitation power supply 10 and the current actually flowing through the superconducting coil 1 are not generated. It is possible to make a superconducting magnet with which currents always match and have quick response.

  FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a ninth embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and different points will be described here.

  In the ninth embodiment, as the current control unit 28 connected in series with the discharge resistor 14, a unidirectional current control element such as a diode, or the thyristor 19 is ignited when the voltage exceeds a certain set voltage as shown in FIG. It is composed of a self-igniting circuit designed to automatically input a signal and eliminates the need for control by the control device 12.

  According to the ninth embodiment having the above-described configuration, there is no malfunction due to failure of signal processing in the control device 12, and the protection circuit can be made highly safe.

  In the above description, the current control unit 28 having a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 10 that is not controlled by a signal from the control device 12 is used. In the ninth embodiment, the current control unit 28 is shown in FIG. As described above, a circuit configuration in which a current control element such as a thyristor 29 that controls current according to a signal from the control device 12 and a current control circuit that is short-circuited when a voltage exceeds a certain setting voltage may be used.

  In the protection circuit for a superconducting magnet having the above configuration, when quenching is detected as in the case of the eighth embodiment, the current control unit 28 is short-circuited. However, even if this control fails, the current control unit Since the self-ignition type current control circuit is short-circuited by the voltage generated at both ends of the circuit 28, the function as the protection circuit is not lost.

  By using the current control unit 28 having such a configuration, it is possible to duplicate the precise control in which the current control is performed by the signal of the control device 12 and the passive control such as the self-ignition type current control circuit. Thus, a protection circuit having safety can be achieved.

  Alternatively, a current control unit 28 having a circuit configuration as shown in FIG. 12 may be used in which the current control units having the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 11 are connected in parallel in opposite directions.

  If the current control unit having such a configuration is used, a superconducting magnet protection circuit capable of dealing with both forward and reverse excitation directions can be provided.

  FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the current introduction terminal portion in the tenth embodiment of the superconducting magnet according to the present invention.

  In the tenth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a current introduction terminal 30 for introducing current into a superconducting coil inside the cryostat through the inside and outside of the cryostat is provided, and the outside of the cryostat, that is, the current introduction terminal 30. The air side is surrounded by a cover 31 for preventing electric shock, and a blower means 32 is provided on the cover 31.

  Since this cover 31 is provided with an exhaust outlet 33 and forms a ventilation path, it is possible to efficiently blow air to the current introduction terminal 30. In addition, the current introduction terminal 30 is cooled by heat transfer from the inside of the cryostat and may have a temperature lower than the dew point. However, since the air introduction terminal 30 is held near the atmospheric temperature by the blowing means 32, water droplets are not formed.

  According to the tenth embodiment having the above-described configuration, ground insulation is good by preventing water droplets from being formed on the current introduction terminal 30.

Sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 3rd Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 4th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 5th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Sectional drawing which shows 6th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. The circuit diagram which shows 7th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. The circuit diagram which shows 8th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. The circuit diagram which shows 9th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. The circuit diagram which shows the structural example of the current control part in the embodiment. The circuit diagram which shows the other structural example of the current control part in the embodiment. The circuit diagram which shows the example of a further different structure of the current control part in the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electric current introduction terminal part in 10th Embodiment of the superconducting magnet by this invention. Explanatory drawing of the cooling characteristic of the refrigerator used for the superconducting magnet which employ | adopted the recondensing type. Sectional drawing which shows an example of the superconducting magnet which employ | adopted the conventional recondensing type. The circuit diagram which shows an example of the superconducting magnet provided with the conventional protection circuit.

Explanation of symbols

  1 ... Superconducting coil, 2 ... Liquid helium, 3 ... Refrigerator, 4 ... Helium vessel, 5 ... Radiation shield, 6 ... Vacuum vessel, 7 ... Gas helium, 8 ... Liquid level measuring means, 9 ... oxide superconducting current lead, 10 ... excitation power source, 11 ... circuit breaker, 12 ... control device, 13 ... diode, 14 ... discharge resistance, 15 ... condensing rod, 16 ... elastic body, 17 ... Flexible body, 18 ... Convection prevention member, 19 ... Heater, 20 ... Pressure measuring means, 21 ... Heater power supply, 22 ... Pressure controller, 23 ... Liquid level gauge, 24 ... Excitation Power source, 25 ... Voltmeter, 26 ... Control device, 27 ... Auxiliary lead, 28 ... Current control unit, 29 ... Thyristor, 30 ... Current introduction terminal, 31 ... Cover, 32 ... Blower means

Claims (1)

A helium container in which liquid helium is stored, a superconducting coil disposed by being immersed in the liquid helium in the helium container, a radiation shield provided so as to surround the helium container, the helium container and A superconducting device comprising: a vacuum container that surrounds the radiation shield and whose interior is maintained in a vacuum; and a refrigerator that is provided on the vacuum container side and that cools the gas helium evaporated in the radiation shield and the helium container, respectively. In the magnet
The liquid level measuring means for measuring the liquid level of liquid helium in the helium container, the voltage measuring means for measuring the excitation voltage of the superconducting coil, and the measurement timing by these measuring means are controlled at predetermined time intervals. A superconducting apparatus comprising: a controller for measuring the liquid level by the liquid level measuring means and measuring the liquid level at any time by the liquid level measuring means when sensing the excitation voltage measured by the voltage measuring means. magnet.

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