Alternative Source for Nominal 20 KRefrigeration At the MTA

Barry Norris, Arkadiy KlebanerSeptember 17, 2004

On a recent trip to Vancouver, Canada, Arkadiy Klebaner took a tour of TRIUMF and its cyclotron/associated equipment.

One observation: • A Stirling ‘turn key’ 20K refrigeration package is used for the vacuum system.

Important points to note:• Triumf has NO cryogenics people but does have cryogenic needs• Triumf has two operational machines; They rotate their usage - 1 machine 28 years old, other is 15 years old• Self contained system motor driven

Comments Pasted from Stirling Webpage

Stirling Cryogenics & Refrigeration BV is the world’s leading innovator in stand-alone cooling systems. Stirling provides solutions for gas and liquid processes at temperatures ranging from -75ºC to -250 ºC.

For over half a century the company has been applying the (Philips) Stirling cycle cryogenerator technology,which enables liquid gases to be produced on-site. Stirling has developed a wide variety of applications like liquid gas production plants, process coolers, gas liquefiers, power coolers and cold cabinets, all based on the stand-alone Stirling cryogenerator technology.

Over 4,000 Stirling cooling systems are already installed worldwide. Customers include artificial insemination centers (livestock improvement), amusement parks, research & development institutes,high-temperature super conducting labs, hospitals, universities, observatories and logistic suppliers. Stirling develops and produces standard as well as customized equipment, and offers a full support package that includes installation, field service and spare parts.

Continued Comments Pasted from Stirling Webpage

Stirling Machine at TRIUMF, 400 W @ approx 14K

Unit sitting on red pedastal is about 2 meters in length

WHY SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE?

Remember: Present plan is to build Tevatron styleHelium refrigeration plant capable of running at 4.5K or14-20K ranges.

1) Would eliminate the resources within AD/Cryogenic Department needed for completion of piping design, installation and operation of Tev system

- Stress/Demands on Dept. resources are severe

2) Would possibly limit the manpower needed to operatethe plant in a continuous manner to support experimenters

We would seek a solution to ‘outsource’ maintenace’.

Stirling Cycle

What We Know to this Point

• TRIUMF believes cost for 4 stage machine, 400W, 14K machine is about $400,000 (we’ve asked Stirling to verify)

• TRIUMF comments that if you purchase a used machinefrom a 3rd party the cost may be half that of new machine…surplus machines should be available

• At least in the case of TRIUMF, maintenance requirements are extensive!

• every 600 hours there is a ‘defrost’ of machine• every 2000 hours there is a total overhaulTRIUMPH has dedicated tech for this work

Note: TRIUMF has 2 machines they swap out with one another AND a partial 3rd for spare parts

Technical items:

Cooldown time of machine on order of 1 hour

Water cooled 5/25 deg C, 3 cubic m/hour, 1.7 bar

Induction motor drive…variable speed would give different tune

What We Know to this Point - Continued

Concluding Comments

-Awaiting response from Stirling on our application

- Need to contact other users and understand views on maintenance, reliability, and operation experiences

Other users: Nuclear Science Center, New Delhi IndiaDESY @ Hamburg Germany

- If serious about possibilities, trip should be made to TRIUMF to talk details with technician and engineer who work on the equipment daily