Experimental Validation with Thermal-Fluid Analysis Of Cryopanels for Cryopump Applications

Abstract

A cryopump is a vacuum pump which captures the gas on surfaces cooled to temperatures below 120K. Cryopump is used for pumping exhaust of plasma burning in fusion grade reactor. Main components of cryopump are cryopanel, baffle and radiation shield. These components act as heat exchangers in cryopump. For design of these components, Fluid-thermal analysis is required. Project includes experimental setup and experiment with chilled water on radiation shield. Modeling of Cryopanel, Baffle and Radiation Shield has been done using modeling software CATIA V5. Meshing of cryopanel, baffle and radiation shield has been done in meshing software HYPERMESH. Thermo-Fluid analysis of cryopanel with Sc helium, thermo-fluid analysis of baffle with liquid nitrogen and thermo-fluid analysis of radiation shield with water has been done using fea software ANSYS. One case study of SST-1 panel is included in this project, which includes experiment, theoretical calculations and thermo-fluid analysis. Results of experiment and analysis for radiation shield are in good agreement. Results of theory and analysis of cryopanel and baffle are also in good agreement. Results of theory, experiment as well as analysis of SST-1 panel show good agreement. So, CFD analysis can be used in design to save time.