Cryogenic Support Thermal Performance Measurements

Abstract

The stringent refrigeration requirements of the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) and the premium nature of radial space in the SSC cryostat have led to the development of a reentrant tube cryogenic support. Thermal shrink fitting techniques are used to assemble the support. The thermal performance of two cryogenic support models is presented. The geometry of each model, its instrumentation, and experimental test arrangement in a Heat Leak Test Facility are described. Heat leak and temperature profile measurements made with a primary heat intercept temperature controlled between 10 K and 40 K are presented. Heat leak values to 4.5 K were measured by means of a heatmeter. Heat leak values to the primary and secondary heat intercepts were derived using the measured temperature profiles and component material properties. Presented are thermal performance measurements of copper cable connections used to heat sink the primary and secondary heat intercepts to their respective thermal radiation shields. Temperature measurements also were made on identical model supports installed in a full length (17.5 meters long) SSC dipole magnet cryostat thermal model. The thermal performance of the cryogenic supports for the two measurements is compared.KeywordsThermal PerformanceVacuum VesselHeat LeakComposite TubeFill DirectionThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.