Cryogenic pulsating heat pipes for efficient cryocooler-based HTS magnets

by Carolin Zoller (PSI - Paul Scherrer Institut), Quentin Gorit (PSI - Paul Scherrer Institut)

Monday 26 May 2025, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Zurich

WBGB/019

As part of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) High-Efficiency Magnet Program, the PSI Magnet Section, in collaboration with the VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG), has launched a project to design, manufacture, test, and implement Pulsating Heat Pipes (PHPs) in cryogenic environments for superconducting applications. PHPs are highly efficient, passive heat transfer devices that operate through thermally induced two-phase flow. In this project, they are being developed as thermal buses to enhance the cooling efficiency and reliability of superconducting magnets by optimizing the heat transfer between cryocoolers and coils.

To facilitate this research, a dedicated test stand was designed and commissioned at PSI.  Within the framework of SMILE (Superconducting Magnets to Improve Large Research Facility Efficiency), this research aims to improve the performance of superconducting magnets and to support the development of smart cryogenic systems integrated with highly efficient cryocoolers.

We present what is, to our knowledge, the first-ever cooldown and operation of a High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) coil using neon PHPs as a thermal bus with a cryocooler. Additionally, we highlight the ongoing scientific collaboration, particularly in PHP modeling and experimental visualization of the two-phase flow.

 Corresponding author: quentin.gorit@psi.ch