TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a heat exchange unit disposed between a first liquid nitrogen chamber and the superconducting transformer for ensuring that the temperature of the liquid nitrogen that provides cooling of the superconducting winding in a cooling system that enables the heat generated by the sudden transition of the superconducting winding from the superconducting state to the normal state (quench) in a superconducting transformer is kept in thermal equilibrium.

BACKGROUND

When the temperature of a material is lowered below a certain value, the condition of completely zero electrical resistance is called superconductivity. In superconducting materials, when the temperature drops below a certain value, the material becomes superconductive. An electric current can continue to flow through the superconducting material without receiving power from any source. Liquid nitrogen is often used to cool superconducting materials to the critical temperature at which they begin to show superconductivity. Today, superconductors are used in many applications such as health, military, and energy efficiency.

One of the areas of use of superconductors is transformers. It is ensured that the energy conversion is made by using superconducting windings in superconducting transformers. One of the common problems encountered in these studies is the temperature increase on the superconductor at the time of quench. In the quenched state, the superconducting winding makes a sudden transition to the normal state. The high fault currents that occur cause a rapid increase in temperature in the environment where superconducting windings are located.

Superconducting winding is placed in the liquid nitrogen chamber. In the case of liquid nitrogen superconducting winding quench, it allows its temperature to be reduced. It causes an increase in the temperature of the liquid nitrogen by transferring the heat to the liquid nitrogen through the superconducting winding. The liquid nitrogen with increasing temperature evaporates after a certain temperature value (from 77K). The amount of liquid nitrogen can be reduced by the evaporation of liquid nitrogen. With the reduction of liquid nitrogen, the quench of superconducting windings can cause damage to superconducting windings by not reducing their temperature immediately.

As a result, all the above-mentioned problems have made it imperative to innovate in the relevant technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat exchange unit for eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages and bringing new advantages to the relevant technical field.

An object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange unit that allows the temperature of the liquid nitrogen to be kept in thermal equilibrium, which allows the superconducting winding to be cooled in a cooling system that allows the heat to be reduced by the sudden transition of the superconducting winding from the superconducting state to the normal state (quench) in a superconducting transformer.

The present invention is a heat exchange unit placed between a first nitrogen chamber and the superconducting transformer to ensure that the temperature of the liquid nitrogen that allows the superconducting winding to be cooled in a cooling system that allows the heat to be reduced by the sudden transition of the superconducting winding from the superconducting state to the normal state (quench) in a superconducting transformer to realize all the objects that will emerge from the abovementioned and the following detailed description. Accordingly, a heat exchange body that can be vacuumed under a certain pressure by means of a vacuum pump when sealed with a cover comprises a thermal copper spiral that allows the heat exchange body to be delivered to the superconducting transformer through an outlet opening by reducing the temperature of liquid nitrogen at a certain temperature received from the first nitrogen chamber by an inlet opening during vacuuming of the heat exchange body located inside said heat exchange body. Thus, the liquid nitrogen used to cool the superconductor is cooled and sent to the system in a reusable way. Liquid nitrogen can be used repeatedly thanks to this system.

A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said cover comprises said inlet opening, said outlet opening, and a vacuum opening for being vacuumed by the said vacuum pump. Thus, it can be ensured that the ambient pressure is kept constant at the desired level when vacuuming is performed.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a pressure sensor to enable the internal pressure of the heat exchange body to be measured. Thus, it is ensured that the heat exchange body is kept at the desired pressure value.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of liquid nitrogen circulating within the heat exchange body. Thus, the temperature of the liquid nitrogen is controlled.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a control unit for receiving the temperature values measured by the said temperature sensor and the pressure values measured by the said pressure sensor. Thus, it is ensured that the working status of the heat exchange unit is checked.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that said control unit is configured to ensure that the heat exchange body is kept at the specified pressure by enabling the vacuum pump to be operated at a predetermined pressure value.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a memory unit for storing temperature values received from the temperature sensor associated with the control unit and pressure values received from the pressure sensor. Thus, it can be ensured that the operating state of the system is checked. This helps to identify faulty or problematic situations.

Another possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the temperature and pressure data stored in the memory unit of the control unit is configured to enable the transmission of the temperature and pressure data stored in the memory unit of the control unit to a remote server via the said communication unit. Thus, it is ensured that a remote user is informed about the operation of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a representative view of the heat exchange unit in a cooling system. Figure 2 shows a representative view of the operating scenario of the heat exchange unit in a cooling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter of the invention is explained only by means of examples that will not have any limiting effect for a better understanding of the subject matter.

The invention relates to a heat exchange unit (100) placed between a first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) and the superconducting transformer (500) to ensure that the temperature of the liquid nitrogen that allows the superconducting winding to be cooled in a cooling system (10) that allows the heat to be reduced by the superconducting winding in a superconducting transformer (500) suddenly changing from the superconducting state to the normal state (quench).

As shown in Figure 1 , the cooling system (10) ensures that the thermal balance is kept within certain limits by circulating the liquid nitrogen between the first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) and a second liquid nitrogen chamber (400). The cooling system (10) includes a vacuum pump (200) in contact with the heat exchange unit (100) to ensure that the heat exchange unit (100) is vacuumed. The heat exchange unit (100) comprises a heat exchange body

(101 ) which, when closed with a cover (102), can be vacuumed under a certain pressure by said vacuum pump (200). The heat exchange body (101) is provided in the form of a cylindrical hollow chamber in a possible embodiment of the invention. The fact that the heat exchange body (101) is provided cylindrically helps to evenly distribute the pressure in it during vacuuming. The heat exchange body (101 ) consists of two nested and vacuumed stainless steel cylinders. Thus, the interaction of the outdoor temperature with the pressure- reduced liquid nitrogen inside is minimized. The cover (102) is provided sealed. The cover

(102) is further provided removably from the heat exchange body (101). The cover (102) comprises an inlet opening (106) for receiving liquid nitrogen at a certain temperature from the first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) to the heat exchange body (101 ). The cover (102) further comprises an outlet opening (107) in the heat exchange body (101 ) that allows the heat-reducing liquid nitrogen under pressure to be delivered to the superconducting transformer (500). A thermal copper spiral (103) that enables the first nitrogen chamber (300) to be delivered to the superconducting transformer (500) via said outlet opening (107) by passing the liquid nitrogen, which is at a certain temperature and received by said inlet opening (106), through the depressurized liquid nitrogen in the heat exchange unit (100) to reduce its temperature during vacuuming of the heat exchange body (101 ) disposed inside the heat exchange body (101 ). The thermal copper spiral (103) mentioned in a possible embodiment of the invention is shaped as shown in Figure 1. The fact that the thermal copper spiral (103) is made in this way helps to reduce the temperature of the liquid nitrogen by reducing the pressure. There is a pressure sensor (104) to enable the pressure of the heat exchange body (101 ) to be measured by the vacuum pump (200). The heat exchange body (101 ) further comprises a temperature sensor (105) for enabling the temperature of liquid nitrogen in the heat exchange body (101) to be measured.

As shown in Figure 2, the heat exchange unit (100) includes a control unit (600) that will provide instantaneous temperature data from the temperature sensor (105) and instantaneous pressure values from the pressure sensor (104). Said control unit (600) enables the control of the data received from the pressure sensor (104). The control unit (600) enables the vacuum pump (200) to be operated. The control unit (600) allows the vacuum pump (200) to be controlled by controlling the data received from the pressure sensor (104). The control unit (600) also allows the instantaneous recording of the measurement data received from the temperature sensor (105) and the pressure sensor (104) to the memory unit (800). The heat exchange unit (100) includes a communication unit (700) associated with the control unit (600). The control unit (600) enables the data stored in the memory unit (800) to be transmitted to a remote server via the communication unit (700). The data is transmitted to a remote user via a user terminal connected to the remote server in a possible embodiment of the invention. The remote user is able to control the data via the user terminal.

An exemplary operating scenario of the invention is described below;

The heat exchange unit (100) is placed between the first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) and the superconducting transformer (500) in the cooling system (10). The liquid nitrogen at a certain temperature is taken from the inlet opening (106) of the heat exchange body (101) provided to the heat exchange unit (100) from the first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) to the thermal copper spiral (103). By taking the liquid nitrogen at a certain temperature into the thermal copper spiral (103), the control unit (600) allows the signal to be generated to enable the operation of the vacuum pump (200). The vacuum pump (200) enables the heat exchange body (101) to be vacuumed through the vacuum opening (108) provided to the heat exchange body (101 ). The control unit (600) ensures that pressure and temperature values are received from the pressure sensor (104) and the temperature sensor (105) during the vacuuming process. The control unit (600) enables the pressure value to be increased to the predetermined value. It is ensured that the temperature data is taken at the predetermined value of pressure value. It is ensured that the temperature of the liquid nitrogen decreases as the pressure increases. It is ensured that the temperature of the liquid nitrogen in the thermal copper spiral (103) is reduced with the pressure. It is ensured that the temperature is transmitted to the cryostat provided to the superconducting transformer (500) from the liquid nitrogen outlet opening (107). Superconducting windings in the cryostat allow a certain amount of heat to be transferred to liquid nitrogen. The heated liquid nitrogen is then transferred to the second liquid nitrogen chamber (400). The flow rate of the liquid nitrogen transmitted from the first liquid nitrogen chamber (300) to the second liquid nitrogen chamber (400) is provided as 1 It/min depending on the pressure difference. With the pressure difference, it allows the fluid flow to flow at a certain level. In this case, there is no need to use a pump in the cooling system (10). Since the first liquid nitrogen chamber is selfpressurized, the pressure difference ensures the circulation of liquid nitrogen. The control unit (600) enables the data received from the pressure sensor (104) and the temperature sensor (105) to be instantly stored in the memory unit (800). The control unit (600) enables the data received from the pressure sensor (104) and the temperature sensor (105) to be instantly stored in the memory unit (800). The control unit (600) enables the data stored in the memory unit (800) to be transmitted to a remote server. A remote user can access the data by connecting to the server via a user terminal. This allows a remote user to check the data.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, liquid nitrogen exiting the self-pressurized liquid nitrogen chamber in a cooling system (10) is transmitted to the heat exchange unit (100) via a thermally insulated copper tube at approximately 77 K. The liquid nitrogen vapor in the heat exchange unit (100) is vacuumed with the vacuum pump (200) until it drops to a pressure of 17 Kpa. Liquid nitrogen temperature under 17 Kpa pressure corresponds to 65 K. It is possible to reduce the temperature of the liquid nitrogen from 77 K to 65 K by passing the liquid nitrogen through the thermal copper spiral (103) pipe in the heat exchange unit (100). By lowering the liquid nitrogen temperature to 65 K, it is transmitted to the superconducting transformer (500) through another thermally insulated copper pipe. It is ensured that the heat generated by the superconducting winding in the superconducting transformer (500) suddenly changes from the superconducting state to the normal state (quench) and is reduced by transmitting the lowered liquid nitrogen to the superconducting transformer. The scope of protection of the invention is specified in the attached claims and cannot be limited to those explained for sampling purposes in this detailed description. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may exhibit similar embodiments in light of the above-mentioned facts without drifting apart from the main theme of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS GIVEN IN THE FIGURES

10 Cooling System

100 Heat exchange unit

101 Heat exchange body

102 Cover

103 Thermal copper spiral

104 Pressure sensor

105 Temperature sensor

106 Inlet opening

107 Outlet opening

108 Vacuum opening

200 Vacuum pump

300 First liquid nitrogen chamber

400 Second liquid nitrogen chamber

500 Superconducting transformer

600 Control unit

700 Communication unit

800 Memory unit