Design, configuration, and thermal optimization of advanced cryostats

Abstract To address new challenges in the design of current and future advanced cryostats, guidelines can be developed by leveraging successful technical experience with existing cryostat assemblies. A brief review of eleven representative advanced cryostat designs is presented, based on six typical cooling methods, including cryogen baths, dry cryostats, mixed-cooling method, continuous cryogen flow, dilution refrigeration, and demagnetization. Also provided are engineering figures, tables-plots, and equations that can be used to design, configure, and optimize the thermal performance of cryostats. The following technical data are introduced: optimal Carnot power versus temperature for various two heat intercept stations in cryostat support, ten representative performances of different MLI blankets at various (Th-Tc), and a graphical summary of the ‘MLI patch-cover-crack’ experiments, among others. The cold mass thermally isolated in cryostats could be a quantum apparatus, test specimen, instruments in-space, or superconducting (SC) devices. The cryostat must provide all functional interfaces for obtaining the required data. The design methodologies for crucial components of a cryostat are discussed in-depth, including: 1) creating a lightweight support structure and placing thermal anchors in optimal locations, 2) designing MLI systems with cost-effective thermal shields, and 3) constructing sophisticated structures to accommodate heavy RF couplers or current leads.