Helium Liquefier

David Haase, Jan Boissevain, Ernie IhloffG. Mulholland - ACT, Inc.C. Winter, D. Healey - Quantum Technology

Helium Liquefier

• Design Criteria– Provide 13 l/hr and 48 watts of equivalent

refrigeration/liquefaction to the cryovessel for 180days between warmups

– Closed cycle system– Meet appropriate safety standards and procedures– A LN storage and delivery system continuously

cools the liquefier engine and traps, as well as theintermediate temperature shield of the cryovessel

Logic Model

Heat leaks and geometry of experiment⇒ Cooling power needed for components⇒ Cryogen usage⇒ Selection of liquefier, dilution refrigerator⇒ Design of heat shields/cryovessel⇒ Iterate

Expected Heat Loads to 4.2 K

• Thermal radiation from highertemperatures

• Conduction through support structure• Electrical wiring• Operation of dilution refrigerator• Eddy current heating from magnets

Expected Heat Loads to 4.2 KSource Heating Comments

Liquefaction Loads

Cooling of recirculating 3He 6.25 l/hr LHe Based on Janis Research

calculation and 30

mmol/sec recirculation rate

Equivalent of 1 K pot usage 2.13 l/hr LHe Based on Janis Research

calculation and 30

mmol/sec recirculation rate

Contingency factor 1.5

Design liquefaction load 12.6 l/hr LHe

Refrigeration Loads

Thermal radiation from 80

K

8.0 W Depends on thickness of

superinsulation

Mechanical supports 10 W Informed estimate

Transfer lines, bayonets,

valves, interface

14 W 10 stainless steel tubing

valve operators

Contingency factor 1.5

Estimated refrigeration

heat load

48 W

Estimated 4.5KHeat LoadsRequire 111%of a minimumLR70

As an example of a modern Linde R/L; L/LR70

Options - Value Engineering• Cryocoolers - not enough cooling power• Transfer of LHe from commercial supplier - issues of

amounts, availability, price• Supply of LHe from SNS cryo facility - too expensive• Piston-type liquefier - Availability and maintenance

issues• Turbine-type liquefier is most dependable• Removed 3000 l LHe storage volume and cryogenic

valves. Tradeoff with larger compressor which allowsfaster cooldown and recovery of gas to gas storage.

Helium Liquefier - Components

• Liquefier Engine (Linde L70 turbine compressor)• Compressor (Kaeser CSD 122, 75 kW, supplied through Linde)• Transfer Lines (Linde supplied bayonets)• LN Air Trap• Oil Removal System• Gas Reheater• 40,000 Gallon Gas Storage Line (Quantum Technologies)• Gas Return Lines (locally fabricated)• Sensors and Controls (Linde, interfaced to EPICS system)• Piping to LN Supply (locally fabricated)• Installation and interfacing to Cryovessel

Helium Liquefier - Components

Helium Liquefier - Components

Helium LiquefierCompressor Oil Removal

Liquid Storage Liquefier

Linde LR70 Cold Box

Linde LR70 Compressors

Linde LR70 Oil Removal and Gas Management

Helium Liquefier - Components

HeliumLiquefier -Components

Cooling and Filling Cycle• Cool 80K shield with LN• Operate LR70 as refrigerator -> 4.2K shield -> 300 l

volume -> Central volume• Throttle J-T valve on cold box to start liquefaction• Fill Central volume then 300 l volume• Cool to 1.5 K with 1.5 K pot pump• Cool to Toperating with dilution refrigerator

Estimated costs

Name

Overall dimensions

(LxWxH) (m)Weight

(kg) Specifications Price USD

Liquid Helium Refrigeration System

a Linde LR70 Cold Box 1.6 x 1.1 x 2.6 1500 65 L/hr $1,144,848

bCSD122 Kaeser compressor 1.65 x 1.04 x 1.87 1400 25.7 gm/sec included

c Linde oil separator 0.9 x 1.2 x 2.6 500 included

dLiquefier Control box (Simatic S7-300) 0.8 x 0.4 x 1.9 110 Control for LR70 included

eShipping & placing of Helium Refrigerator $50,000

f Commissioning $40,000

gRoom temperature piping and installation installed and pressure tested by local gas fitter $100,000

hTwo flexible LHe transfer lines

Delivery 1/4” ID Return 1/2” ID $20,000

I Local utility connections $25,000

jContingency and Foreign Exchange $100,000SUBTOTAL $1,479,848

Estimated costsHelium Gas Recovery SystemBuffer/Storage Tank 4 dia x 17 long 36000 40,000 US gallon $200,000Concrete pad and bolting and engineering report and crane work vertical tank $35,000

Dual LN2 cooled purifier $100,000Ambient Gas Reheater 7 kW $15,000Gas purity monitor 1ppm sensitivity $30,000Moisture meter -55C dew point $5,000Pump inlet gas reheater 1.3 kW $5,000Supervision of installation, pressure testing and purification of buffer tank $40,000

SUBTOTAL $430,000

LN2 SystemInsulated LN2 piping 1/2” dia $20,000Tank Pad $5,000LN2 autofill systems $20,000LN2 Storage Tank 3000 L lease

On site install LN2 piping $10,000SUBTOTAL $55,000

Estimated costs

Accessories

Turbomolecular vacuum pump system for insulating vacuum serviceWith Residual Gas Analyzer for leak testing using other gasesHelium leak tester for general leak testing

Infrastructure

Electricity & Cooling Water (see Linde specs)One time only helium gas initial inventory ~$15,000 (equiv. To 1500L*$10)Liquid nitrogen required for operation ~70 litres/hour during cooldownLN2 5 days x 24 hours x 70 x $0.70 = $5,880 per cooldown

Liquefier is quoted in Swiss Francs. 1,380,000 @ 0.8296 as of 2008 Dec. 9$1,144,848 USDollars

Liquefier safety issues

• Standard cryogenic hazards• Closed system• Cryogenic liquid storage

Possible VendorsLinde CryogenicsDivision of Linde Process Plants, Inc.6100 South Yale Avenue Suite 1200, Tulsa, OK 74136Tel: +1 918 477 1200Fax: +1 918 477 1107E-Mail: john.urbin@lppusa.comwww.lppusa.com

Business Development, Advanced Cryogenics & Gas TechnologiesAir Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LlcJean-Marie Gaillard200 GBC Drive, Newark, DE 19702-2462302-286-5524 (Office)302-286-5596 (Fax)

Bid and Delivery• Complete development of specifications• Incorporation of safety criteria and quality assurance

into bid documentation• Issue call for bids for components and installation• Expect 12 month delivery after issue of bid plus 3

months installation