Cryogenic Pipe Calculations

VB Jan 2008

idea
Use superconducting pipe for atomic beam experiments
advantages
cryopumping for better vacuum exclusion of magnetic fields inside pipe

disadvantages
cost & complications cryopump vibrations

basic concept
cryocoolers insulation pipe

use simple pipe with superinsulation (MLI) & two cryocoolers

no liquids in the system (except in the cryocoolers themselves) use two cryocoolers (~ 1W cooling @ 4 K)

use lead pipe (used for calculations)

device is NOT a magnet Type I superconductor high critical temp ( ~ 7 K)

Niobium has even higher critical temp (~9 K) Can probably use Type-II superconductors below lower critical temp

performance calculations
use MATLAB to simulate pipe performance
heat capacity as a function of temperature cryocooling as a function of temperature
load map

heat conductivity constant insulation on pipe + heat leak at pipe ends pipe divided into longitudinal segments program calculates new temp profile every fraction of a second
for each segment
conduction from adjacent segments heat gain through insulation arbitrary heat gain in a any segment (used for ends) cryocooling heat loss (if present for the segment)

cryopumps turn on at an upper temp and off at a lower temp (for any segment) temp cannot go below 4 K (cryopump limit)