Investigations on control strategies for multi-stage cold compressors in superfluid helium system

Abstract

As particle accelerator technology has advanced, there has been a growing demand for enhanced cooling capabilities, particularly within the superfluid helium temperature range. The integration of cold compressors has played a key role in minimizing the size of heat exchangers and optimizing cold exergy utilization. This paper presents a dynamic model of the superfluid helium system and its components, with validation achieved through a comparison between the model’s calculated results and experimental data obtained from a cold compressor test platform. To further reduce the costs associated with manual control, the study introduces and evaluates two novel control system designs. Additionally, it details the process of optimizing the performance of multi-stage serial centrifugal cold compressors, ensuring improved efficiency and reliability.