Hybrid liquid-hydrogen and helium cryocooler systems and methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F25B-007/00
F25B-009/00
출원번호
US-0851001
(2013-03-26)
등록번호
US-9261295
(2016-02-16)
발명자
/ 주소
Schmidt, Jeffrey A.
Marquardt, Eric
출원인 / 주소
BALL AEROSPACE & TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
대리인 / 주소
Sheridan Rose P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
Embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to providing cooling to instruments or other components. More particularly, hydrogen from a store is provided to pre-cool helium contained within a closed loop refrigeration circuit. Helium pre-cooled by the hydrogen, for example after expansion of the h
Embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to providing cooling to instruments or other components. More particularly, hydrogen from a store is provided to pre-cool helium contained within a closed loop refrigeration circuit. Helium pre-cooled by the hydrogen, for example after expansion of the hydrogen in an expansion valve, is itself passed through an expansion valve, and applied to a heat load. The helium can be circulated through the refrigeration circuit using a compressor. The hydrogen used for pre-cooling the helium can be from a store of hydrogen that also provides fuel to a hydrogen consumer, for example for propulsion of a vehicle carrying the cooling system or for the production of electrical power. A hydrogen consumer can also be provided with hydrogen that has first been used to pre-cool the helium refrigeration circuit.
대표청구항▼
1. A system, comprising: a hydrogen reservoir;first and second hydrogen supply conduits;a helium refrigeration circuit;a hydrogen expansion valve, wherein the first hydrogen supply conduit interconnects the hydrogen reservoir with the hydrogen expansion valve, wherein hydrogen from the hydrogen rese
1. A system, comprising: a hydrogen reservoir;first and second hydrogen supply conduits;a helium refrigeration circuit;a hydrogen expansion valve, wherein the first hydrogen supply conduit interconnects the hydrogen reservoir with the hydrogen expansion valve, wherein hydrogen from the hydrogen reservoir is passed through the hydrogen expansion valve and the hydrogen is brought from a first pressure at the inlet of the hydrogen expansion valve to a second pressure at the outlet of the hydrogen expansion valve, wherein the first pressure is higher than the second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is a low pressure;a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger receives as a first input hydrogen from the hydrogen expansion valve at the second pressure, and wherein the first heat exchanger receives as a second input helium included in the helium refrigeration circuit; anda second heat exchanger, wherein the second hydrogen supply conduit interconnects the hydrogen reservoir with the second heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger receives as a first input hydrogen from the second hydrogen supply conduit as a liquid, wherein the second heat exchanger receives as a second input helium included in the helium refrigeration circuit, and wherein the helium in the helium refrigeration circuit passes through the second heat exchanger prior to passing through the first heat exchanger. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second pressure is less than 1.5 psi. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the hydrogen at the outlet of the hydrogen expansion valve is less than or equal to 15 K. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second hydrogen supply conduit is a hydrogen fuel supply conduit. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second hydrogen supply conduit is connected to a hydrogen consumer. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hydrogen consumer includes at least one of: a fuel cell; an internal combustion engine; a turbine; and a rocket motor. 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen passed through the hydrogen expansion valve is vented to an ambient atmosphere. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a helium expansion valve, wherein the helium expansion valve is in communication with a helium outlet of the first heat exchanger. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the helium expansion valve has a variable orifice. 10. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a compressor, wherein the helium is moved through the helium refrigeration circuit by the compressor. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen provided to the second heat exchanger exits the second heat exchanger as a liquid. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the hydrogen passed through the hydrogen expansion valve enters the first heat exchanger as a gas. 13. A system, comprising: a first hydrogen reservoir, wherein hydrogen in the first hydrogen reservoir is at a first pressure;a first hydrogen conduit;a first hydrogen expansion valve, wherein the first hydrogen expansion valve is supplied with liquid hydrogen from the first hydrogen reservoir by the first hydrogen conduit, and wherein at least some of the hydrogen exits an outlet of the first hydrogen expansion valve as a gas;a first heat exchanger, wherein a first inlet of the first heat exchanger is in communication with the outlet of the first hydrogen expansion valve;a second hydrogen conduit;a second heat exchanger, wherein a first inlet of the second heat exchanger is supplied with liquid hydrogen from the first hydrogen reservoir by the second hydrogen conduit, and wherein hydrogen exits a first outlet of the second heat exchanger as a liquid;a fuel flow line that interconnects the first outlet of the second heat exchanger to a hydrogen consumer;a helium circuit, wherein the helium circuit passes through the first and second heat exchangers, and wherein the helium circuit includes: a compressor;a helium expansion valve, wherein an inlet of the helium expansion valve is in communication with an outlet of the first heat exchanger;a first heat load interface, wherein a first input of the first heat load interface is in communication with an outlet of the helium expansion valve. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the hydrogen that has passed through the first hydrogen conduit is vented to the atmosphere. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein after the helium circuit passes helium through the second heat exchanger the helium circuit passes the helium through the first head exchanger. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is installed in a vehicle, wherein the hydrogen consumer at least one of generates electricity and a motive force, and wherein the first heat load interface is in thermal contact with an instrument. 17. A method for cooling a heat load, comprising: providing a source of hydrogen, wherein the source of hydrogen is at a high pressure;delivering hydrogen from the source of hydrogen to a hydrogen expansion valve using a first conduit;expanding at least some of the hydrogen from the source of hydrogen through the hydrogen expansion valve, wherein the hydrogen is brought to a low pressure, wherein at least some of the hydrogen is transformed to a gas phase, and wherein the hydrogen is cooled to less than 20 K;passing the at least some of the hydrogen at a low pressure from the hydrogen expansion valve to a first heat exchanger;passing the at least some of the hydrogen delivered by the first conduit through the first heat exchanger as a gas;delivering hydrogen from the source of hydrogen to a second heat exchanger using a second conduit;passing the hydrogen delivered by the second conduit through the second heat exchanger as a liquid;passing helium through the second heat exchanger, wherein the helium is cooled in the second heat exchanger to less than 23 K;passing helium through the first heat exchanger, wherein the helium is cooled in the first heat exchanger to less than 16 K;expanding the helium cooled by the first heat exchanger in a helium expansion valve, wherein the helium is cooled to less than 10 K;delivering the helium cooled to less than 10 K to a first heat load. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: providing the hydrogen that has passed through at least one of the first and second conduits to a hydrogen consumer. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the hydrogen consumer includes a fuel cell, and wherein the method further comprises generating electricity. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the hydrogen provided to the hydrogen consumer is hydrogen that has passed through the second heat exchanger, wherein the hydrogen is provided to the hydrogen consumer as a liquid, wherein the hydrogen consumer includes at least one of a motor or an engine, and wherein the method further comprises generating a motive force. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the high pressure is at least 30 psi, and wherein the low pressure is less than 2 psi.
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