CRYOGENIC COOLING SYSTEM

A cryogen cooling system to cool a superconducting magnet is disclosed herein utilizing embedded vertical tubing with a large heat exchanging surface area. The tubing encompasses the magnet which is further surrounded by a 4 Kelvin thermal shield for extended ride-through. In one embodiment, the system is a hyperpolarizer having an internal high-pressure gas storage for quench gas and to initiate cool-down. Aspects of the invention utilize a minimal volume of pressurized gas, for example, four (4) liters of pressurized gaseous helium in a 150 mL liquid helium system. As such, the prior vent stack has been removed, along with the helium vessel and quench paths/ducts. The method of using the system is further simplified during ramping while the cool-down process utilizing liquids supplied from external dewars has been eliminated. Significant advantages include reducing the helium volume (and cost associated therewith) and allowing for a hermetically sealed vacuum system that is leak-proof.