US20060147318A1 - Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor - Google Patents

Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060147318A1
US20060147318A1 US10/525,030 US52503005A US2006147318A1 US 20060147318 A1 US20060147318 A1 US 20060147318A1 US 52503005 A US52503005 A US 52503005A US 2006147318 A1 US2006147318 A1 US 2006147318A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
compressor
helium
pressure port
oil
low pressure
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Abandoned
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US10/525,030
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English (en)
Inventor
Millind Atrey
David Crowley
Peter Daniels
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Siemens Magnet Technology Ltd
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Oxford Magnet Technology Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0219211A external-priority patent/GB0219211D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0219209A external-priority patent/GB0219209D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0219210A external-priority patent/GB0219210D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0306364A external-priority patent/GB2391910B/en
Application filed by Oxford Magnet Technology Ltd filed Critical Oxford Magnet Technology Ltd
Assigned to SIEMENS MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED reassignment SIEMENS MAGNET TECHNOLOGY LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CROWLEY, DAVID MICHAEL, DANIELS, PETER DEREK, ATREY, MILIND DIWAKAR
Publication of US20060147318A1 publication Critical patent/US20060147318A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C18/00—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C18/02—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids of arcuate-engagement type, i.e. with circular translatory movement of co-operating members, each member having the same number of teeth or tooth-equivalents
    • F04C18/0207—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids of arcuate-engagement type, i.e. with circular translatory movement of co-operating members, each member having the same number of teeth or tooth-equivalents both members having co-operating elements in spiral form
    • F04C18/0215—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids of arcuate-engagement type, i.e. with circular translatory movement of co-operating members, each member having the same number of teeth or tooth-equivalents both members having co-operating elements in spiral form where only one member is moving
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C23/00—Combinations of two or more pumps, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type, specially adapted for elastic fluids; Pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids; Multi-stage pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00—Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/0092—Removing solid or liquid contaminants from the gas under pumping, e.g. by filtering or deposition; Purging; Scrubbing; Cleaning
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00—Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/02—Lubrication; Lubricant separation
    • F04C29/026—Lubricant separation
    • 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
    • F25B43/00—Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids; Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat
    • F25B43/02—Arrangements for separating or purifying gases or liquids; Arrangements for vaporising the residuum of liquid refrigerant, e.g. by heat for separating lubricants from the refrigerant
    • 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
    • F25B9/002—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C2210/00—Fluid
    • F04C2210/10—Fluid working
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C2210/00—Fluid
    • F04C2210/10—Fluid working
    • F04C2210/105—Helium (He)
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C2220/00—Application
    • F04C2220/22—Application for very low temperatures, i.e. cryogenic
    • 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
    • F25B2309/00—Gas cycle refrigeration machines
    • F25B2309/14—Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the cycle used 
    • F25B2309/1418—Pulse-tube cycles with valves in gas supply and return lines
    • F25B2309/14181—Pulse-tube cycles with valves in gas supply and return lines the valves being of the rotary type
    • 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
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/07—Exceeding a certain pressure value in a refrigeration component or 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
    • 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
    • F25B9/145—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 pulse-tube cycle

Definitions

  • MRI magneto-resonance imaging
  • helium is compressed in stages, and the compressed gas is cooled after each stage by passing over cooled heat-conductive vanes, for example, water-cooled metallic vanes.
  • oil is mixed in with the helium under pressure. The heat generated by pressurising the helium gas is absorbed by the oil. The oil must be removed from the helium before the helium is used for cooling, since the oil would solidify and cause problems in the cryogenic application if subjected to a temperature in the range of interest, that is, of the order of 4-10 K.
  • the present invention relates to the second method of compression and cooling, in which oil is mixed with the helium.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a known helium compressor with internal bypass relief valve 12 .
  • a Helium compressor with internal bypass relief valve In cryogenic operations, for example magneto-resonance imaging, it is common to compress Helium gas using a Helium compressor with internal bypass relief valve.
  • Such apparatus is manufactured and supplied as a complete unit, with High Pressure (HP) and Low Pressure (LP) ports 16 , 18 .
  • HP High Pressure
  • LP Low Pressure
  • the internal bypass relief valve 12 is provided to prevent damage to the compressor capsule 14 , which might otherwise occur if the HP port 16 were blocked, for example.
  • the internal bypass relief valve 12 reacts to an increase in differential pressure between the HP and LP ports by effectively connecting the HP port 16 to the LP port 18 . This provides a path 11 for the pressurised helium, and prevents damage to the compressor capsule 14 .
  • a non-return valve (NRV) 13 is also typically provided, between the LP port 18 and the internal bypass relief valve connection 15 . This is intended to prevent backflow of gas and also to prevent the gases and any contaminants that pass through the bypass relief valve 12 from reaching the LP port 18 .
  • Oil separator 17 is provided in the high pressure output line of the compressor capsule 14 to separate the oil from the compressed helium gas. This oil separator may not retain 100% of the oil present in the helium, so it is known to provide an oil adsorber 19 , for example of activated charcoal, either within the compressor upstream from the HP port 16 , or externally, downstream from the HP port 16 .
  • FIGS. 2 A-D schematically represent the operative part of a scroll compressor.
  • the scroll compressor comprises two similar, concentric spirals 21 , 23 , one inserted within the other. Spiral 23 remains stationary as spiral 21 orbits within it.
  • gas is drawn into compression chambers 25 , 25 ′ when the outer openings 27 , 27 ′ are open.
  • the outer openings 27 , 27 ′ close and the compression chambers 25 , 25 ′ are drawn within the spiral 23 .
  • the spiral 21 continues its orbit, and as shown in FIG.
  • the compression chambers 25 , 25 ′ are drawn further into the spiral, and its volume reduces, compressing the gas within the chambers 25 , 25 ′.
  • the outer openings 27 , 27 ′ reopen, to expose further compression chambers 29 , 29 ′ to the ambient gas.
  • Chambers 25 , 25 ′ move towards the centre of the scroll, becoming increasingly compressed until the gas within the chambers reaches maximum pressure at the centre of the compressor, illustrated in FIG. 2D .
  • the high-pressure gas is released through a discharge port 22 in the fixed scroll 23 .
  • the various compression chambers 25 , 25 ′, 29 , 29 ′ etc. arrive sequentially at discharge port 22 , while new compression chambers are created by the opening and closing of the outer opening 27 .
  • the scroll compressor While described above as acting to compress gas, in the present application, the scroll compressor will be acting upon a mixture of helium with oil, referred the hereinafter as “gas+oil”.
  • a typical use for the compressed helium produced by the helium compressor of FIG. 1 is in supplying a pulse tube refrigerator 61 for the cooling of superconductive MRI magnets.
  • a pulse tube refrigerator of known type may be supplied with high pressure pumped helium gas through an HP line 63 the HP port 16 , while a return flow of helium gas at relatively low pressure returns through an HP line 65 to LP port 18 .
  • the HP port typically provides helium gas at a pressure of around 2.4 MPa (24 bar), while the LP port typically receives gas at a pressure of around 0.6 MPa (6 bar).
  • Present pulse tube refrigerators typically employ a rotary valve (RV) mechanism 67 .
  • a number of mutually rotating discs define valve opening and closing times, and valve orifice dimension. Such arrangements ensure correct and unchanging timing and dimension relationship between the various valves embodied in the rotary valve mechanism 67 .
  • both the LP and HP ports would be connected to at least one valve of the rotary valve mechanism.
  • the HP and LP ports are typically connected to the pulse tube refrigerator with a relatively long flexible hose 63 , 65 .
  • a relatively long flexible hose 63 , 65 The HP and LP ports are typically connected to the pulse tube refrigerator with a relatively long flexible hose 63 , 65 .
  • some pulse tube refrigerator cold heads with rotary valve and flex lines were flooded with compressor oil over a period of time. As this occurred on four systems, it could not be considered a random event. Experiments were performed in order to understand the mechanism of oil carry over.
  • the present invention provides means and methods to overcome or at least alleviate the problems with the prior art compressor/pulse tube refrigerator assembly, and the present invention may be applied to any system in which a helium compressor with internal bypass relief valve has its HP and LP ports connected to a valve mechanism.
  • flex line 65 to the PTR was twenty metres in length.
  • the pressure in the HP line 63 was increased from 2.4 MPa (24 bar) to 2.9 MPa (29 bar) in steps of 0.1 MPa (1 bar), being run for 4-6 hours for each step.
  • the two metres of LP line 65 was subjected to residual gas analysis (RGA) to trace any oil in the line.
  • the flex line under examination line was heated to approximately 200° C. In a line containing oil, very high traces of CO and CO 2 were detected, indicating the breakdown of oil within the tube under examination.
  • the PTR was run for each trial and showed 10 K no load temperature on its second stage.
  • the PTR was then subjected to heater loads of 40 W and 6 W at its first and second stages, respectively. However no oil could be traced under any of these conditions.
  • the gas was always able to flow around the gas circuit 63 , 67 , 65 from the HP port 16 to the LP port 18 .
  • a pressure gauge was connected at position 31 , in place of the further adsorber, at the distal end of the two metre LP flex line 33 , while the other end was connected to the LP port 18 of the compressor.
  • the HP port 16 of the compressor was kept unattached, and therefore, blocked.
  • the initial pressure in the LP line was 0.15 MPa (1.5 bar).
  • the compressor was run at high HP line pressure of 2.8-2.9 MPa (28-29bar) for two to three days. This essentially ran the compressor in an internal bypass condition, with the only gas flow being from the HP line through the internal bypass valve 12 to the LP line.
  • the present invention resides in part in the finding that oil migration from the compressor to the PTR may be prevented, or at least substantially reduced, by preventing oil carry over from the LP side of the compressor, particularly during stoppage of the rotary valve 67 when the compressor is still in running.
  • gas+oil travels from the compressor towards the PTR 61 across the NRV 13 due to high pressure difference between the compressor pressure and the low pressure in the LP line 65 of the PTR. This condition should accordingly be avoided wherever possible.
  • methods and apparatus are provided to reduce the effect of this condition should it occur.
  • FIG. 1 shows a known helium compressor supplying compressed helium to a pulse tube refrigerator, according to the prior art
  • FIG. 2 shows the action of a scroll compressor, according to the prior art
  • FIG. 3 shows the system of FIG. 1 adapted according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 shows the system of FIG. 1 adapted according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 shows the system of FIG. 1 adapted according to a yet further embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, for preventing oil carry-over from the helium compressor through the low pressure line, comprising an oil trap, known in itself, in a novel and inventive placement, at position 31 within the LP line 65 between the compressor and the rotary valve.
  • the oil trap is connected to the compressor on the LP line using a two metre flex line 33 on one side and twenty metre flex line 32 on the other end.
  • the initial pressure in flex lines 32 , 33 was kept to 0.15 MPa (1.5 bar).
  • This embodiment was tested by running the compressor to very high pressure of 2.8-2.9 MPa (28-29 bar) in internal bypass mode. It was noticed that the pressure on the gauge increased over a period of time.
  • the compressor was run at a high pressure of about 2.8 MPa for several days.
  • the RGA of two-metre line 33 after three days of operation showed contamination with oil, while the twenty metre line 32 beyond the oil trap at position 31 did not show any trace of oil. This test accordingly confirms the satisfactory usage of the oil trap over the given period of time for preventing oil carry over from the helium pump, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a further oil adsorber similar to oil adsorber 19 , is placed in position 31 , in substitution for the oil trap discussed above.
  • oil travel from the compressor to the PTR is reduced by placing a gas reservoir in position 31 in the LP line 65 in substitution for the oil adsorber or oil trap discussed above.
  • This reservoir serves to reduce the pressure difference across the NRV 13 in case of the rotary valve stopping. The magnitude of the reduction in pressure difference depends on the volume of the reservoir.
  • Certain known helium compressors such as the SHI and Cryomech compressors are provided with an internal gas reservoir with an adsorber/filter in the LP line. Others, such as the Leybold and APD compressors do not have this feature.
  • a combined gas reservoir and oil adsorber is placed in position 31 in the LP line 65 .
  • This serves to both prevent and manage the oil carry-over problem.
  • the gas reservoir feature serves to reduce the pressure differential across the NRV, thereby reducing the probability of gas+oil passing through the NRV.
  • the adsorber feature prevents any oil which may pass the NRV from travelling further along the LP line towards the PTR.
  • a low pressure switch 51 is provided in the LP line after the NRV. If the RV 67 stops for any reason, the pressure in the LP line will rapidly drop from its usual 0.5-0.6 MPa (5-6 bar) level.
  • the switch 51 responds to the lowering of the LP line pressure, and stops the compressor as soon as the lowered pressure is detected. This prevents the build up of a large pressure differential across the NRV 13 , and reduces the likelihood of gas+oil travelling through the NRV 13 . Since the switch 51 should be designed to react as soon as possible, the switch is preferably designed to react to a relatively small reduction in LP line pressure. For example, the switch may be activated, causing the compressor capsule 14 to stop by a LP line pressure of 0.5 MPa (5 bar).
  • the switch 51 may be any pressure sensor capable of operating at the temperatures and pressures likely to be encountered in a helium compressor.
  • the pressure switch 51 is an electrical switch, and when activated by an unusually low pressure in the LP line, causes a power supply to the compressor capsule to be interrupted, thereby stopping the operation of the compressor.
  • a pressure switch 51 (a Barksdale Control Products GmbH, UDS 7 type) was fixed on the LP side before LP port 18 of a Leybold helium compressor.
  • the helium compressor had its LP 16 and HP 18 ports connected to a pulse tube refrigerator 61 , in this case a 10 K OMT PTR 1030207.
  • the low pressure cut off value for the system which occurs when the PTR is warm, was determined. It was found that with the static charging pressure of 14 bar on the compressor dial gauge, a minimum dynamic pressure of 0.51 MPa (5.1 bar) and maximum dynamic pressure of 2.4 MPa (24 bar) were obtained.
  • the pressures changed to 0.63 MPa (6.3 bar) minimum and 2.2 MPa (22 bar) maximum in dynamic conditions at lower temperatures with heat loads of 50 W at the first stage of the PTR and 6 W at the second stage of the PTR.
  • a pressure switch setting of 0.51 MPa (5.1 bar) was accordingly considered appropriate.
  • the switch operating pressure should be selected carefully, however.
  • the charging or filling pressure of the PTR should be correct, to maintain correct operation of the pressure switch at the selected switch operating pressure. If the filling static pressure is less than the recommended standard value, or more precisely the value used in determining the pressure switch operating pressure, the compressor may stop during the start up period due to unwanted activation of the pressure switch 51 . Also, if the filling static pressure is too high, the time delay required to stop the compressor could be lengthened, and the compressor may go in to bypass mode of operation when the RV stops. This would entail the activation of the internal bypass valve 12 , and the possible contamination of the LP line by gas+oil travelling through NRV 13 .
  • the internal bypass valve 12 is provided with its own return channel 61 to the compressor capsule 14 .
  • any gas+oil which passes through the internal bypass valve due to excess pressure in the HP line 63 for example, in the case of a stopped rotary 67 valve on an attached equipment 61 , will pass directly to the compressor capsule 14 , and will not be able to reach the NRV 13 or the LP line 65 .
  • Any gas+oil passing through the internal bypass valve 12 will be at a relatively high pressure, much higher than the pressure inside the LP line 65 .
  • the return channel 61 is connected to the compressor pump, such as the scroll pump illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D at a relatively high pressure location, closer to the centre of the scrolls than the openings 27 , 27 ′ which will receive gas from the LP port 18 .
  • the return channel 61 is preferably connected to the compressor by its own manifold, deep in the core of the compressor. Since the helium gas is mixed with oil in the compressor, the fact that the return channel 61 provides gas+oil raises no problems.
  • a disadvantage to this particular embodiment lies in that modifications are required to the compressor capsule.
  • an oil trap or gas reservoir/absorber may be placed in the LP line upstream from the pressure switch.
  • the present invention maybe usefully applied to any situation in which a helium compressor supplies compressed helium to an equipment through a system of valves.
  • a helium compressor supplies compressed helium to an equipment through a system of valves.
  • the invention has been particularly described with reference to pulse tube refrigerators operated though a rotary valve, it may be usefully applied to any valve controlled equipment.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)
  • Compressor (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Rotary Pumps (AREA)
US10/525,030 2002-08-17 2003-06-26 Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor Abandoned US20060147318A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0219211A GB0219211D0 (en) 2002-08-17 2002-08-17 Modification in copressor circuit to prevent oil carry over to the ptr cold head
GB0219209.4 2002-08-17
GB0219209A GB0219209D0 (en) 2002-08-17 2002-08-17 Management of compressor oil cary over to the ptr cold head
GB0219211.0 2002-08-17
GB0219210A GB0219210D0 (en) 2002-08-17 2002-08-17 Modification in compressor circuit to prevent oil carry over to the pulse tube refrigerator (ptr) cold head
GB0219210.2 2002-08-17
GB0306364A GB2391910B (en) 2002-08-17 2003-03-20 Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor
GB0306364.1 2003-03-20
PCT/GB2003/002797 WO2004016997A1 (en) 2002-08-17 2003-06-26 Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060147318A1 true US20060147318A1 (en) 2006-07-06

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/525,030 Abandoned US20060147318A1 (en) 2002-08-17 2003-06-26 Oil carry-over prevention from helium gas compressor

Country Status (7)

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US (1) US20060147318A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2006506599A (de)
CN (1) CN100523664C (de)
AU (1) AU2003251140A1 (de)
DE (1) DE10393034B4 (de)
GB (1) GB2408071B (de)
WO (1) WO2004016997A1 (de)

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US10683796B2 (en) 2016-03-30 2020-06-16 General Electric Company Systems and methods for reduced oil carryover
CN113302439A (zh) * 2019-01-15 2021-08-24 住友重机械工业株式会社 超低温制冷机的启动方法、超低温制冷机

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CN1306229C (zh) * 2005-04-25 2007-03-21 中国科学院理化技术研究所 采用油润滑压缩机驱动的斯特林制冷系统
SG186008A1 (en) 2007-11-21 2012-12-28 Pharmaxis Ltd Haloallylamine inhibitors of ssao/vap-1 and uses therefor
CN101655305B (zh) * 2009-08-17 2011-07-06 成都黄金地真空技术开发有限公司 一种以涡旋式压缩机为核心的氦气压缩净化机组
DE202013010352U1 (de) * 2013-11-18 2015-02-19 Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum Gmbh Kaltkopf für Tieftemperatur-Kältemaschine
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CN112413918B (zh) * 2020-11-09 2023-07-25 深圳供电局有限公司 一种低温制冷机
CN117128171A (zh) * 2023-08-31 2023-11-28 广州广钢气体能源股份有限公司 一种有油活塞氦气压缩机专用净化装置

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DE10393034T5 (de) 2005-10-13
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JP2006506599A (ja) 2006-02-23
GB2408071A (en) 2005-05-18
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CN1675509A (zh) 2005-09-28
WO2004016997A1 (en) 2004-02-26
AU2003251140A1 (en) 2004-03-03

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