Cryogenic Distribution System and Entropy-Based Analysis of Chosen Design Options for the Example of the Polish FEL Facility

Tomasz Banaszkiewicz, Maciej Chorowski () and Paweł Duda
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Tomasz Banaszkiewicz: Department of Cryogenics and Aerospace Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Maciej Chorowski: Department of Cryogenics and Aerospace Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Paweł Duda: Department of Cryogenics and Aerospace Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-20

Abstract: The Polish Free-Electron Laser (PolFEL), which is currently under construction in the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Świerk near Warsaw, will comprise an electron gun and from four to six cryomodules, each accommodating two nine-cell TESLA RF superconducting resonant cavities. To cool the superconducting resonant cavities, the cryomodules will be supplied with superfluid helium at a temperature of 2 K. Other requirements regarding the cooling power of PolFEL result from the need to cool the power couplers for the accelerating cryomodules (5 K) and thermal shields, which limit the heat inleaks due to radiation (40–80 K). The machine will utilize several thermodynamic states of helium, including two-phase superfluid helium, supercritical helium, and low-pressure helium vapours. Supercritical helium will be supplied from a cryoplant by a cryogenic distribution system (CDS)—transfer line and valve boxes—where it will be thermodynamically transformed into a superfluid state. This article presents the architecture of the CDS, discusses several design solutions that could have been decided on with the use of second law analysis, and presents the design methodology of the chosen CDS elements.

Keywords: helium; cryogenics; cryomodule; transfer line (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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