Technologies Available for License

2022-004: Remote-Controlled Cryogenic Fluid Transfer Line Retrofit Kit

Invention: 2022-004

Patent Status: Provisional filed on August 23, 2024

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

Traditional methods to control cryogenic fluid flow using COTS transfer lines rely on manual adjustments, which are not only labor-intensive but also pose significant risks, especially when working with large dewars in confined spaces. Personnel are needed on site to make manual adjustments, which can be onerous and labor intensive when cryogenic flow is required for several hours or more. Additionally, manual systems often lack the precision required to maintain optimal temperatures, potentially compromising either the integrity of the application or and leading to inefficiencies and additional cost due to excessive cryogen consumption. The ability to remotely control the flow of cryogenic fluids in such application is therefore a highly desirable capability. To the best of our knowledge, no kits are known to be available to retrofit existing portable transfer lines from manual to remote control.

Description

BNL researchers have developed an innovative automated valve adjuster for cryogenic fluid transfer lines that is designed to optimize the management of cryogenic fluids (e.g., liquid Helium (LHe)), reducing manual intervention while enhancing safety and reducing operational cost and efficiency. The valve adjuster can be easily incorporated into a new or existing manual transfer line to provide remote fluid flow. Remote control of cryogen flow will simultaneously improve temperature control and safety and permit programmed flow adjustment to improve temperature control. This fluid transfer kit can cost-effectively retrofit existing lines with remote flow controls, or cryogenic transfer line manufacturers can offer this as an option that customers can add to their existing transfer line. Each valve adjuster is intended to cradle the flow control valve on existing cryogenic transfer lines to accurately control the flow of liquid cryogens and to enable remote, in-situ flow adjustments. The flow adjustments may be made either from an office in a research or operational facility, or from an off-site location. Each device will include easy-to-use control software. LHe savings were quantified by actual operational tests of a prototype at BNL's in-house X-ray beamline where a week-long series of experiments initially consumed three 100L dewars of LHe. When a similar series of experiments were repeated over a comparable time period, less than one 100L dewar of LHe was used. At $12.36 per liter, approximately $2.5k was saved. Equally significant are the labor savings obtained from substantially reduced staff/Tech support.