TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to cryogen gas purifiers for removing impurities from a supply of cryogen gas and providing a purified source of cryogen gas to equipment such as liquefiers and the like; and more particularly the invention relates to helium gas purifiers configured to utilize the cooling power of a cryocooler to coalesce impurities within the helium gas for filtration through a filtering medium.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Cryogen gases are in high demand for their application in refrigeration and cooling technologies, as well as other applications. For example, helium gas, among other cryogen gases, is often used in a variety of medical and scientific equipment, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), material analysis devices, and other equipment. To achieve liquid- phase helium for use with refrigeration technologies, gas-phase helium is generally liquefied within a gas liquefier by cooling the gas to a point of liquefaction. The liquid-phase helium is then evaporated to produce a flow of gas-phase helium for cooling material samples, super magnets, or other materials or components.

[0003] It is often desirable to supply high-purity helium gas to a liquefier such that accumulation of impurities within the liquefier can be minimized, thus reducing lost time and resources attributed to equipment maintenance procedures. Moreover, certain liquefiers and other instruments benefit from the use of a high-purity cryogen gas. For example, to effectuate a specialized operation, such as high performance liquefaction, where efficient liquefaction is obtained using a pressure-controlled liquefaction region and purified helium gas as described in commonly owned U.S. Publication No. 2013/0014517, titled "LIQUEFIER WITH PRESSURE- CONTROLLED LIQUEFACTION CHAMBER".

[0004] As is indicated above, as cryogen gas is condensed into liquid during a liquefaction process within a suitable liquefier, various impurities such as nitrogen, oxygen, and other impurities tend to collect within the system, thus giving rise to required maintenance. Typical maintenance may include warming the liquefier to ambient temperatures to clean out any impurities, wherein the warming cycle may require several hours or days to complete. Thus, in many cases the liquefier may be inoperable or unavailable for extended maintenance periods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0005] There is a need for purified cryogen gas, such as helium gas, being substantially free of impurities, and supplied to equipment in an efficient manner. Conventional gas purifiers are limited in that they require routine maintenance to remove impurities captured within the system. It would be beneficial to provide a cryogen gas purifier capable of achieving high- purification and being configured to operate continuously without downtime related to periodic maintenance. Additionally, there is a need for further purification or "scrubbing" of commercially supplied cryogen gases, especially for sensitive equipment requiring highly- purified cryogen gas in order to achieve optimum performance.

Solution to Problem

[0006] A "cryocooler-based gas scrubber", otherwise termed a "cryocooler-based cryogen gas purifier", is provided in accordance with a plurality of embodiments.

[0007] The scrubber utilizes a cryocooler to isolate impurities and further filters such impurities to deliver a supply of highly-purified cryogen gas.

[0008] The scrubber comprises a Dewar having one or more wells for nesting at least a cooling portion of a cryocooler and a filter assembly therein. The cryocooler functions to cool gas-phase cryogen entering the scrubber. As the gas-phase cryogen is cooled, impurities within tend to coalesce, providing an ability to filter the gas through the filter assembly for removing the coalesced impurities. The filtered cryogen gas is then passed through a conduit toward an output port for immediate use, or storage.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the conduit for communicating the filtered and purified gas-phase cryogen may be coiled about the cryocooler to form a gas-flow heat exchanger such that the purified gas can be slightly warmed toward ambient temperatures as it leaves the scrubber.

[0010] In an embodiment, the cryocooler and filter assembly reside in a single-well

Dewar. [001 1] In another embodiment, the cryocooler and filter assembly are separated within the Dewar with each being individually disposed within distinct thermally isolated wells.

[0012] In yet another embodiment, the Dewar comprises a first well for containing at least a cooling portion of a cryocooler, a second well for containing a first filter assembly, and a third well for containing a second filter assembly. Cryogen gas is input into the first well and cooled by the cryocooler. A switch or valve controls the direction for which the cryogen gas continues, with two user- selectable options including the second well and associated filter assembly or the third well and associated filter assembly. In this regard, the scrubber can be operated using the filter assembly associated with the second well while the opposite filter assembly contained in the third well is undergoing maintenance. Alternatively, the filter assembly associated with the third well can be utilized while the filter assembly contained within the second well undergoes maintenance.

[0013] In another aspect, a method is disclosed for purifying cryogen gas, such as helium gas. The method comprises using a cryocooler to form coalesced impurities from an input flow of gas-phase cryogen, and filtering the gas through a filter assembly configured to trap and remove the coalesced impurities.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] The proposed cryocooler-based gas scrubber is configured to isolate impurities from within a supply gas and filter such impurities in a process which yields a high-purity cryogen. In this regard, a user can purchase a less-expensive and commercial grade cryogen gas and filter the gas using the scrubber to yield a supply of high-purity cryogen.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the proposed cryocooler-based gas scrubber is capable of providing a continuous flow of purified gas, wherein the supply is not limited by routine maintenance caused by accumulation of impurities within the filter portion of the scrubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG.l illustrates a section view of a cryocooler-based gas scrubber in accordance with an embodiment.

[0017] FIG.2 illustrates a section view of the scrubber of FIG.l and further illustrating a filter matrix within the filter housing. [0018] FIG.3 illustrates a cryocooler-based gas scrubber in accordance with another embodiment.

[0019] FIG.4 illustrates a cryocooler-based gas scrubber in accordance with yet another embodiment.

[0020] FIG.5 illustrates a filter assembly in accordance with various embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these details and descriptions.

[0022] A cryocooler-based gas scrubber according to various embodiments of the invention is adapted to filter a source of cryogen gas to produce highly purified cryogen gas. The scrubber utilizes a cryocooler, such as a Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocooler, pulse tube, or other cryocooler, to cool an input flow of cryogen gas within a closed system. Once cooled to temperatures below about 100 Kelvin, the impurities within the input flow of cryogen gas tend to coalesce and can be filtered through a porous matrix within a filter assembly.

[0023] Generally, the system can comprise a Dewar having a vacuum-insulated volume disposed between two or more shells thereof, at least a cooling portion of a cryocooler disposed within the Dewar, and a filter assembly comprising a filtration matrix. Cryogen gas is pumped into the Dewar such that the cryocooler is configured to cool the gas for coalescing impurities within the gas volume. The cooled gas is filtered through the filter assembly comprising the filter matrix wherein the filter matrix is adapted to trap coalesced impurities. The result is a filtered cryogen gas being pumped through the filter assembly and delivered to a storage container or directly to equipment for consumption.

[0024] In some embodiments, a counter flow heat exchange coil is formed from a conduit delivering the filtered cryogen gas to an outlet for storage or consumption. The conduit is disposed near the cooling portion of the cryocooler going from a bottom end to a top end. The filtered cryogen gas flowing through the conduit is warmed as the gas flows in a direction opposite of the input cryogen gas, warming as the temperature of the cryocooler gradually increases from the bottom end to the top end and input heat is communicated from the input cryogen gas flow.

[0025] In other embodiments, a counter flow heat exchanger is not provided. In this regard, the purified gas may remain cooled to temperatures below ambient temperature.

[0026] It should be recognized that although the description illustrates helium as the cryogen gas, other cryogen gases can be filtered using a similar system and are therefore deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

[0027] The impurities described herein may include nitrogen, oxygen, and other impurities that tend to be found in a supply of helium gas.

Example 1

[0028] Now turning to the drawings, FIG.l illustrates a cross-section of a cryocooler- based gas scrubber 1 according to certain embodiments of the invention. The scrubber comprises a Dewar 2 having one well therein and comprising a first outer shell 2A, a second inner shell 2B, and a volume 2C between the outer and inner shells being substantially evacuated of air. The scrubber further comprises a cryocooler 3 having one or more cooling stages 3A; 3B extending within the Dewar. A filter assembly 4 may comprise a perforated housing 5 and a perforated manifold tube 6 being nested within the perforated housing. A filter matrix (not shown in FIG. l) can be disposed within the filter assembly, and may comprise a porous matrix, for example a fiberglass matrix, or other porous matrix adapted to filter impurities from the cryogen gas. In this embodiment, the perforated manifold tube is disposed at a radial center of the filter assembly 4 and extends vertically therein for directing filtered cryogen gas toward a counter-flow heat exchange 7, wherein a coiled portion 7A and conduit 7B are coupled to the perforated manifold tube 6. The coil 7A circles the cryocooler to form windings from a bottom end 8A (cold end) to a top end 8B (warm end). The cryogen gas enters and exits near the top of the Dewar at about 290K (ambient temperature).

[0029] FIG.2 further illustrates a cross section of the cryocooler-based gas scrubber of

FIG.1 as described above, and further having a filter matrix 9 housed within the filter assembly 4. The coiled conduit 7, or counter-flow heat exchanger, is adapted to coil about the cryocooler 3 from a bottom cold end 8 A to a top warm end 8B. [0030] In this embodiment, the input flow of cryogen gas, for example gas-phase helium, enters the Dewar and cools about the region of the scrubber containing the cryocooler cooling stages. The density of the cooled cryogen gas increases as the temperature decreases, and the cryogen gas flows downwardly toward the filter assembly. As mentioned above, impurities within the cryogen gas, such as nitrogen and oxygen, tend to coalesce and can be filtered through the filter assembly. The filtered cryogen gas then permeates the filter matrix leaving the impurities trapped therein, and the filtered cryogen gas enters the perforated manifold tube nested within the filter assembly. The purified cryogen gas then flows through a conduit being coiled about the cryocooler from a bottom end (cold end) to a top end (warm end). The cryogen thereby flows upwardly within the coiled conduit forming a counter-flow heat exchange whereby the cool cryogen gas absorbs heat until reaching a top end of the coiled conduit.

[0031] In various embodiments herein, the scrubber is configured such that the cryogen gas enters the scrubber at or near ambient temperature (290 K), cools to about 60 K near the cold end of the cryocooler, and because of the counter-flow heat exchange -the cryogen is returned to near ambient temperature upon reaching an exit port at the top end of the coiled conduit. These temperatures are provided for illustrative purposes, and may vary depending on factors such as the power of the cryocooler, volume of the Dewar, and other factors that will be recognized by those with skill in the art.

Example 2

[0032] FIG.3 illustrates another embodiment of a side-by-side unit, or two-well unit, wherein a cryocooler-based gas scrubber 10 comprises a Dewar 1 1 having a first well 12 adapted for cooling an input flow of cryogen gas and warming an output highly-purified cryogen gas via a counter-flow heat exchanger 15, and a second well 13 configured to filter impurities from within the cryogen gas. The Dewar comprises a first shell 1 1A and a second shell IB nested within the first shell 1 1A and having a volume therebetween 1 1C being substantially evacuated of air to form an insulated container. At least a portion of a cryocooler 20 extends within the first well 12, the cryocooler comprising one or more cooling stages 31 ; 32; 33, respectively. A coiled- conduit 15 is coiled about the cryocooler from a bottom end near a third cooling stage 31 , to a top end near a first cooling stage 33. The coiled conduit 15 is further coupled to a manifold 34 disposed in the adjacent second well 13. The manifold 34 is contained within a filter assembly housing 14. The first and second wells 12; 13, respectively, comprise a connection 16 extending therebetween near a bottom portion of the Dewar, the connection being adapted to communicate a flow of cooled cryogen gas from the first well 12 to the second well 13, and may comprise for example a tube, passage, hose, or other connection. Once inside the second well 13, the cryogen gas permeates through the filter assembly housing 14, and filter matrix therein (not shown), thereby filtering an amount of impurities before permeating the manifold tube 34 within the filter assembly. Once filtered, the cryogen gas flows from the second well to the first well via conduit 17, and upwardly through the coiled conduit 15 progressing from the bottom end of the cryocooler to the top end; i.e. the counter-flow heat exchanger. The scrubber may comprise one or more input ports 19 and output ports 18. Each of the input and output ports may comprise a valve or pump for controlling the flow of cryogen gas into and out of the unit.

Example 3

[0033] FIG.4 illustrates another embodiment, wherein the scrubber 40 comprises a

Dewar 44 having a first well 41 , a second well 42, and a third well 43. The scrubber comprises a cryocooler 45 at least partially extending within the first well, and a coiled conduit 46 wrapping about one or more stages of the cryocooler to provide a counter-flow heat exchange. The second well 42 comprises a first filter assembly 48 comprising a first filter housing, a first filter matrix within the first filter housing, and a first manifold tube nested within the first filter housing (See FIG.5 for detail). The first manifold tube 58 is coupled with the coiled conduit 46 through a first coupler tube 54 and a coil valve 53. The third well 43 comprises a second filter assembly 47, similar to the first filter assembly 48, the second filter assembly comprising a second filter housing, a second filter matrix, and a second manifold tube 59 disposed nested within the second filter assembly. The second manifold tube 59 is coupled with the coiled conduit 46 through a second coupler tube 55 and the coil valve 53. A first port valve 50 is disposed between a first port 49 extending between the first well 41 and the second well 42; the first port valve 50 is adapted to communicate a flow of cooled cryogen from the first well 41 to the second well 42. Likewise, a second port valve 52 is disposed between a second port 51 extending between the first well 41 and the third well 43; the second port valve 52 is adapted to communicate a flow of cooled cryogen from the first well 41 to the third well 43. The scrubber may comprise one or more input ports 56 and output ports 57. Each of the input and output ports may comprise a valve or pump for controlling the flow of cryogen gas into and out of the unit.

[0034] In this regard, the first filter assembly 48 can be utilized until impurities begin to clog the filter matrix, at which point one or more valves 50; 52; 53 can be configured such that the second filter assembly 47 is used in place of the first filter assembly. During operation using the second filter assembly 47, the first filter assembly 48 can undergo a maintenance procedure to extract the impurities from the filter matrix therein. Then, as the second filter assembly 47 becomes saturated with impurities, the system can revert to usage of the first filter assembly 48 by configuring the respective valves 50; 52; 53. The valves can be configured manually, or by computer control. Because the design and function of both manual and computer-controlled valves are well understood by those having skill in the art, they will not be further addressed here. In this regard, the embodiment of Figure 4 provides a continuous multi-well cryogen gas scrubber capable of operation without downtime.

[0035] FIG.5 illustrates an example of a typical filter assembly for use in the various embodiments herein. The filter assembly 100 comprises a perforated filter housing 101 having a number of apertures 102 disposed about a surface thereof. The filter housing 101 is generally cylindrical; however any other geometry may be implemented in a similar fashion. Within the filter housing 101 is a manifold tube 103 contained within the housing. The manifold tube may comprise one or more manifold apertures 105 extending along the manifold tube for receiving filtered cryogen gas. A volume of the filter assembly disposed between the manifold tube 103 and the housing 101 may be filled with a filter matrix 104, such as a fiberglass filter matrix. In this regard, the filter assembly 100 is configured to filter cryogen gas flowing through the filter housing 101 , through the filter matrix 104, and through the manifold tube 103, respectively, such that impurities are filtered through the matrix 104 and purified cryogen gas is received through the manifold tube 103 toward an output where the gas can be collected for storage or used directly with equipment.

[0036] Although various embodiments herein illustrate a cryocooler-based gas scrubber having a coiled conduit nested around one or more cooling stages of a cryocooler it should be recognized by those having skill in the art that a purifier may be practiced without the coiled conduit. In this regard, the highly purified cryogen gas may be communicated from a filter assembly directly to an output port of the scrubber. A result of this configuration may include a significantly cool purified gas, which may or may not be desirable based on the intended use of the purified cryogen gas.

[0037] The cryocooler-based gas scrubber can be coupled directly to a liquefier, or may be a stand-alone unit coupled to a bottling system for storing purified cryogen gas.

[0038] Thus, in an embodiment, a cryocooler-based gas scrubber comprises: a Dewar having a first shell nested within a second shell and a volume therebetween being substantially evacuated of air to form an insulated container, the Dewar comprising at least one well extending from a bottom end to a top end defining an interior volume of the Dewar; a cryocooler having a cooling portion extending within the interior volume of the Dewar at the top end thereof; and a filter assembly disposed within the interior volume of the Dewar; the gas scrubber being configured to cool an input flow of cryogen gas sufficiently to cause coalescing of impurities within the gas flow, and to filter the coalesced impurities at the filter assembly for delivering purified cryogen gas.

[0039] In another embodiment, the filter assembly comprises: a perforated filter housing having a plurality of apertures disposed about a surface thereof; a perforated manifold tube extending along a length of the filter assembly; and a filter matrix disposed therebetween; wherein the filter assembly is adapted to trap the coalesced impurities within the filter matrix.

[0040] In another embodiment, the filter matrix comprises a fiberglass material.

[0041] In another embodiment, the cryocooler is one of a GM-type refrigerator or a pulse tube refrigerator.

[0042] In another embodiment, the scrubber comprises two or more cryocoolers.

[0043] In another embodiment, the perforated manifold tube of the filter assembly is coupled to a counter-flow heat exchanger for warming the gas to near ambient temperature prior to delivering to an outlet for consumption of purified gas.

[0044] In another embodiment, the counter-flow heat exchanger comprises a length of conduit wrapped around the cryocooler from the bottom end to the top end thereof.

[0045] In another embodiment, the Dewar comprises: a first well and a second well; the first well configured in fluid-communication with the second well via a first port extending therebetween; the cryocooler being disposed within the first well; the filter assembly being disposed within the second well, and a conduit extending from the perforated manifold tube to an outlet; wherein scrubber is adapted to cool the cryogen gas in the first well, communicate the gas flow from the first well to the second well through the first port, and filter the impurities from the cryogen gas through the filter assembly disposed in the second well.

[0046] In another embodiment, the Dewar further comprising a third well; the first well further configured to be in fluid-communication with the third well via a second port extending therebetween; a second filter assembly being disposed within the third well, and a second conduit extending from a second perforated manifold tube of the second filter assembly to an outlet; the first port comprising a first valve and the second port comprising a second valve, each of the first and second valves being adapted to regulate a gas-flow therebetween; a third valve disposed between the conduits and the counter-flow heat exchanger, the third valve adapted to select one of the conduits for supplying purified cryogen gas to the counter-flow heat exchanger; wherein the scrubber is adapted to cool the cryogen gas in the first well, communicate the gas flow from the first well to one of the second well or third well through the first port or second port, respectively, and filter the impurities from the cryogen gas through the selected filter assembly of the second or third well.

[0047] In another embodiment, a cryocooler-based gas scrubber, comprises: a Dewar having one or more wells within an outer shell and an inner shell, and a volume between the outer shell and inner shell being substantially evacuated of air; a cryocooler having one or more cooling stages extending within one of the wells; a filter assembly comprising a perforated filter housing, a filter matrix, and a perforated manifold tube disposed along a radial center of the filter assembly; and a coiled conduit adapted to wrap about the one or more stages of the cryocooler from a bottom cold end to a top warm end; wherein the scrubber is adapted to cool an input flow of cryogen gas to a temperature for coalescing impurities within the cryogen gas, filter impurities from the cryogen gas to form a highly-purified cryogen gas, and warm the purified cryogen gas through counter flow heat exchange as the gas flows through the coiled conduit from the bottom cold end to the top warm end.

[0048] In another embodiment, the scrubber comprises two wells, wherein a first well houses the cryocooler and coiled conduit; and wherein a second of the two wells houses the filter assembly. [0049] In another embodiment, the first well is connected to the second well at a connection extending therebetween.

[0050] In another embodiment, a valve disposed at the connection between the first and second wells.

[0051] In another embodiment, a third well, wherein a second filter assembly is housed in the third well.

[0052] In another embodiment, a method for purifying a cryogen gas, comprises: cooling the cryogen gas within a Dewar using a cryocooler disposed therein; with the cryogen gas cooled to a temperature at which impurities coalesce, filtering the impurities from the cryogen gas using a filter assembly comprising a filter matrix; and warming the gas through a coiled conduit adapted to coil about the cryocooler from a bottom cold end to a top warm end for providing counter-flow heat exchange.

[0053] Using the embodiments described above and in FIGs 1-5, one having skill in the art can envision similar embodiments having three or more wells, two or more cryocoolers, three or more filter assemblies, etc. These and other variations are therefore deemed to be within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0054] This invention provides a system and method for purifying a cryogen, such as a commercial grade helium gas, for yielding a high-purity cryogen for use in ultra- sensitive equipment.

SIGNS LIST

(1) cryocooler-based gas scrubber (20) cryocooler

(2) Dewar (31 ; 32; 33) cooling stages

(2A) first outer shell (34) manifold tube

(2B) second inner shell (40) cryocooler-based gas scrubber (2C) volume evacuated of air (41) first well

(3) cryocooler (42) second well

(3A; 3B) cooling stages (43) third well

(4) filter assembly (44) Dewar

(5) perforated housing (45) cryocooler

(6) manifold tube (46) coiled conduit / counter-flow HX

(7) coiled conduit / counter-flow HX (47) second filter assembly

(7A) coiled portion (48) first filter assembly

(7B) conduit (49) first port

(8A) bottom cold end (50) first port valve

(8B) top warm end (51) second port

(9) filter matrix (52) second port valve

(10) cryocooler-based gas scrubber (53) coil valve

(1 1) Dewar (54) first coupler tube

(1 1 A) first shell (55) second coupler tube

(1 IB) second shell (56) input port

(1 1C) volume evacuated of air (57) output port

(12) first well (58) first manifold tube

(13) second well (59) second manifold tube

(14) filter assembly housing ( 100) filter assembly

(15) coiled conduit / counter-flow HX (101) perforated filter housing

(16) connection (102) filter housing apertures

(17) conduit ( 103) manifold tube

(18) output port (104) filter matrix

(19) input port (105) manifold apertures