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Tests Show High Temperature Superconducting Magnets Ready for Fusion

In the early hours of September 5, 2021, engineers at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) achieved a groundbreaking milestone by demonstrating a world-record magnetic field strength of 20 tesla with a new high-temperature superconducting magnet. This breakthrough is crucial for advancing fusion power technology, with the potential to...

Thermionics Laboratory Empowers Precision Nanofabrication, Ultrahigh Vacuum Manipulator for Glancing Low Angle Deposition

What does a leading optics manufacturer do when striving to develop cutting-edge lenses for high-resolution imaging systems? Their quest for flawless optical performance hinges on achieving nanostructured surfaces that minimize light scattering and maximize transmission efficiency. In the intricate world of advanced materials and nanotechnology, achieving precise fabrication techniques is...

What Is the Temperature of Space?

One of the most common questions from students when presented with an introduction to in-space applications of cryogenics is “What temperature is space?” While the askers of this question are usually enthusiastically interested, thinking space to have tactile temperatures just like the playground outside the school, this is actually a...

How Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Combustion Could Revolutionize Racing

Hydrogen power is gradually making its mark on the motorsport scene. This year, we have already witnessed hydrogen race cars competing in the Fuji 24 Hours, hillclimbs, and the Dakar Rally. Looking ahead to 2025, the world’s first hydrogen championship, Extreme H, will debut, and by 2027, hydrogen prototypes are...

En Route Toward the First German Quantum Computer

Fraunhofer IPMS is collaborating on the development of an integrated German quantum computer based on superconducting quantum chips. Together with 24 German research institutions and companies, under the coordination of Forschungszentrum (FZ) Jülich, Fraunhofer IPMS is working on this quantum computer with the goal of improving error rates. At the halfway...

Indian Student to Research Liquid Hydrogen with Monash University

A Ph.D. student from India is conducting groundbreaking research with Monash University’s Department of Civil Engineering after being selected as the recipient of the prestigious Australian government-funded Maitri Scholars Program. Chennai native Rohith Prakash will focus on advancing the safe transport and storage of liquid hydrogen, with a particular emphasis on...

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Refrigerators and Liquefiers

Two of the most common terms used in cryogenics are “refrigerator” and “liquefier.” These terms describe similar and, as will be seen, in some cases identical components. A refrigerator provides cooling (that is, absorbs heat) at cryogenic temperatures. Refrigerators typically put a working fluid (such as helium) through one of...

Air Separation

Air separation is one of the largest, as well as earliest, industrial applications of cryogenics. In this process, cryogenic temperatures are used to separate air into its constituent gases: nitrogen (78.08%), oxygen (20.95%), argon (0.93%) and carbon dioxide (0.3%). Trace gases such as krypton, neon, xenon and helium total far...

Coefficient of Performance and Figure of Merit

The coefficient of performance (COP) is used to describe the effectiveness of refrigerators, including those operating at cryogenic temperatures. The COP is defined as the amount of heat removed at the cryogenic operating temperature of the refrigerator divided by the amount of work that must be applied to remove the...

Wind Tunnels

Dr. Robert Kilgore The development of the cryogenic wind tunnel is one of many significant breakthroughs in both cryogenics and wind-tunnel technology made during the past millennium. Interest in the development of high-speed commercial and military aircraft resulted in a review of problems of flow simulation in transonic wind tunnels...

History of Cryogenics

From the Fall 1999 issue of Cold Facts magazine Millennium Breakthroughs A variety of CSA members give different perspectives on the past millennium: What were the most significant breakthroughs in cryogenics during the past millennium? Prof. R.G. Scurlock, Kryos Technology, scurlock@soton.ac.uk (“Breakthrough” = way through obstacles — Oxford English Dictionary)...

Cryobiology

Andreas Sputtek Past President Society for Cryobiology sputtek@uke.uni-hamburg.de or http://www.sputtek.de/. The word cryobiology (from the Greek words “cryo” = cold, “bios” = life, and “logos” = science) literally signifies the science of life at low temperatures. In practice, this field comprises the study of any biological material or system (e.g.,...

Cryogenic Insulation

James E. Fesmire Cryogenics Test Laboratory NASA Kennedy Space Center james.e.fesmire@nasa.gov Introduction In today’s world, the use of cryogenics and low-temperature refrigeration is taking a more and more significant role. From the food industry, transportation, energy, and medical applications to the Space Shuttle, cryogenic liquids must be stored, handled, and...

An Issue of Pressure and Flow Rate in a Supply Tank

Please help solve this problem: A supply tank requires a vaporizer to generate sufficient pressure to pump stored fluid up into a vehicle or tank. The available head is limited as the tank level falls and it is important to minimize the system pressure drop to maintain the desired flow...

Using MLI on VJ Line Joints or Cryo Storage Tanks

When installing Multi Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets on VJ line joints or cryo storage tanks should they be wrapped and tied down tight or loose? These are usually pre-cut to size. Also should they have an access hole at the point of where the molecular sieve is installed to help...