Helium filling methods

Abstract

Methods for filling magnets, cooling magnets and energizing magnets are disclosed. The methods are performed at a helium transfill facility, and helium is employed in filling the magnet, cooling the magnet to appropriate temperatures and energizing the magnet such that it can be employed in operations where superconductive magnets are required.

1 . A method for providing cooling to superconducting coils of a magnet with cryogenic helium gas at a helium transfill facility comprising feeding cryogenic gaseous helium from an onsite helium container to said magnet and flowing said gaseous helium through a cryostat of said magnet. 
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said container is an ISO container. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the temperature of said gaseous helium is less than 80 K. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said helium is fed from said onsite helium container until said magnet temperature is stable. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said magnet filled with liquid helium is used in a device selected from the group consisting of magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising filling said magnet from said onsite helium container until said cryostat is filled to its designated design maximum. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising recovering said cryogenic helium gas from said magnet. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising recovering vaporized helium from a magnet undergoing energizing at a helium transfill facility. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said vaporized helium is fed to a helium recovery system. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said vaporized and recovered helium is reprocessed. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said reprocessed is reused. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the temperature of said cryogenic helium liquid is 4 K. 
     
     
         13 . A method for recovering cryogenic gaseous helium released during the energizing of a magnet at a helium transfill facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising recovering cryogenic gaseous helium release during quenching of a magnet at a helium transfill facility. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said magnet is filled with helium. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said vaporized helium is the result of a process selected from the group consisting of superconducting coils producing heat into liquid helium and dissipation of energy from superconducting coils into liquid helium. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  where said vaporized helium is first recovered into a quench gas recovery bag. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said quench gas recovery bag is in fluid communication with a helium gas collection system. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said helium gas collection system is a helium gas bag. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said vaporized helium is compressed and fed to a helium recovery system. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said recovered and compressed helium is fed to a helium purifier. 
     
     
         22 . A method for recovering vaporized helium from filling a magnet with liquid helium at a helium transfill facility. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  where said recovered helium is gaseous helium. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 22  where said vaporized helium is first recovered into a quench gas recovery bag. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said quench gas recovery bag is in fluid communication with a helium gas collection system. 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said helium gas collection system is a helium gas bag. 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 24  wherein said vaporized helium is compressed and fed to a helium purifier. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said purified and compressed helium is fed to a helium liquefier. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28  wherein liquefied helium is withdrawn from said liquefier and fed to storage. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said liquefied helium is used to cool down superconductive coils of a magnet.