Operational Characteristics of the 200-m Flexible Cryogenic Transfer System

• Published in: Journal of superconductivity and novel magnetism 2013-05, Vol.26 (5), p.1479-1483
• Main Authors: Lin, M. C., Wang, C., Chang, M. H., Chung, F. T., Yeh, M. S., Lin, Y. H., Chen, L. J., Tsai, M. H., Yang, T. T., Lo, C. H., Yu, T. C., Chang, L. H., Hsiao, F. Z., Tsai, H. H., Chiou, W. S., Li, H. C., Lin, T. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Cooling; Dewars; Exact sciences and technology; General equipment and techniques; Heaters; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Liquid helium; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Modules; Original Paper; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Strongly Correlated Systems; Superconductivity; Transfer lines; Valves
• ISSN: 1557-1939; 1557-1947
• DOI: 10.1007/s10948-012-2035-x

A proper cryogenic environment is essential for the operation of superconducting devices. A test area for the superconducting radio-frequency modules (SRF) has been established in the RF laboratory at National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center in Taiwan; these modules require much liquid helium during conditioning and performance tests; a cooling capacity of 120 W is expected for the acceptance test of the SRF module. The cryogenic environment of the test area is completed on transferring the liquid helium over a remarkable length of 205 m from the two cryogenic plants at Taiwan Light Source, with a valve box located at each end to control and to measure the cryogenic flow. Flexible cryogenic transfer lines of concentric four-tube type are chosen for both the supply of liquid helium and the return of cold helium gas. Functional examination of this long transfer system was first achieved with a 500-L Dewar in the radio-frequency laboratory; an SRF module was then installed in the test area for practical operation. The primary concern about the cryogenic transfer system is the heat loss; a measurement technique based on the principle of thermodynamics is developed and proposed herein. With the available sensors inside the valve boxes and the heaters inside the 500-L Dewar and the test SRF module, this technique has proved promissing from the measured results.