Fluid path insert for a cryogenic cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10481222-B2
Application number	US-201715658123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Jul 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A cooling system is provided. The cooling system is associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system and configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system. The cooling system includes a cryogenic chamber that includes a cryogenic fluid. The cooling system also includes a removable sample sleeve insertable within a portion of the cryogenic chamber. The removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooling system associated with a dynamic nuclear polarization system, wherein the cooling system is configured to cool a sample to a temperature suitable for dynamic nuclear polarization to be carried out on the sample while the sample is in the cooling system, and wherein the cooling system comprises:
a cryogenic chamber comprising a cryogenic fluid;
a sample pot positioned within the cryogenic chamber, the sample pot being at least partially surrounded by the cryogenic fluid;
a removable sample sleeve inserted into the sample pot such that a lower portion of the removable sample sleeve is positioned in the sample port and an upper portion of the removable sample sleeve protrudes out of the sample pot, and wherein the removable sample sleeve is configured to define a sample path for the sample within the cryogenic chamber that is isolated from other parts of the cooling system.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the removable sample sleeve is configured to contain the formation of ice to within the sample path.

3. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic fluid comprises liquid helium.

4. The cooling system of claim 1 , comprising a thermal switch attached to the lower portion of the removable sample sleeve, wherein the thermal switch is configured to be positioned between the sample pot and a bottom surface of the lower portion of the removable sample sleeve.

5. The cooling system of claim 4 , comprising a cold plate positioned in the sample pot and configured to act as a thermal interface between the thermal switch and the sample pot.

6. The cooling system of claim 4 , wherein the thermal switch is configured to heat the removable sample sleeve to a temperature sufficient to de-ice the sample path while the removable sample sleeve is positioned within the sample pot.

7. The cooling system of claim 4 , comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to collect data regarding the cooling system; and
a controller comprising a processor and memory, wherein the controller is configured to receive the data from the plurality of sensors and cause actuation of the thermal switch based on the data.

8. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the removable sleeve is configured to receive a volume of cryogenic fluid.

9. The cooling system of claim 1 , comprising a positioning system configured to move the sample through the sample path defined by the removable sample sleeve.

10. The cooling system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of links configured to secure the removable sample sleeve within the cooling system.

11. A removable sample sleeve configured to be disposed within a cooling system of a dynamic nuclear polarization system, and collect ice that forms within the cooling system, wherein the removable sample sleeve comprises:
an upper portion configured to be disposed within a portion of the cooling system outside of a sample pot of the cooling system;
a lower portion configured to be disposed within the sample pot, wherein the lower portion comprises a thermal switch configured to warm the lower portion; and
a body portion configured to be disposed both within and outside of the sample pot.

12. The removable sample sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the removable sample sleeve is made from a metal or metal alloy.

13. The removable sample sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the thermal switch is configured to prevent ice from forming within areas of the cooling system outside of the removable sample sleeve.

14. The removable sample sleeve of claim 11 , wherein the thermal insert is configured to be removed from the bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve.

15. A controller-executable method of de-icing a removable insert sleeve of a cooling system, the method comprising:
receiving a first set of sensor data from one or more sensors configured to collect data regarding the cooling system, wherein the cooling system is configured to cool a sample, wherein the cooling system comprises a removable sample sleeve configured to collect ice that forms within the cooling system, wherein the removable sample sleeve comprises a thermal insert configured to directly heat a bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve;
determining whether the first set of sensor data is indicative of ice formation in the cooling system;
sending a command to actuate a thermal switch when the first set of sensor data is indicative of ice formation in the cooling system;
receiving a second set of sensor data from the one or more sensors;
determining whether the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions; and
sending a command to deactivate the thermal switch when the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first set of data is associated with a detected temperature, pressure, or a status of the sample.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the thermal switch is configured to heat the bottom surface of the removable sample sleeve to at least 290 Kelvin.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is positioned on a wall of the removable sample sleeve.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the second set of sensor data is indicative of de-icing conditions comprises determining whether a temperature of the bottom surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature value.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Stautner Ernst Wolfgang
• Ardenkjaer-Larsen Jan Henrik
• Padgett Patrick L
• Murray Jonathan Alan
• Chen Rui
• Trigger James Richard
• Comment Arnaud
• Chen Albert Po-Fu

Classifications

• F25B19/005

  the refrigerant being a liquefied gas · CPC title

• F25D19/006

  Thermal coupling structure or interface · CPC title

• G01R33/282

  Means specially adapted for hyperpolarisation or for hyperpolarised contrast agents, e.g. for the generation of hyperpolarised gases using optical pumping cells, for storing hyperpolarised contrast agents or for the determination of the polarisation of a hyperpolarised contrast agent · CPC title

• G01R33/31 Primary

  Temperature control thereof · CPC title

• G01N1/42

  Low-temperature sample treatment, e.g. cryofixation · CPC title