SBIR-STTR Award

SRF cavities are starting to be recognized as not only research devices but as devices that might be able to step in as an improved and cost-efficient alternative to the existing room temperature high average power industrial accelerators. The largest issue in fostering this change in applicable areas is the cost of the infrastructure and cytotechnology required when maintaining cryo-liquids. The bulky cryoplants are presently synonymous with the SRF accelerator technology, thus limiting people?s perception and therefore undermining commercial potential of the SRF accelerators. Although, to reverse such perception, few smaller cryomodules have already been developed, as a rule these projects have not invested in the level of analysis required for field deployment, instead focusing on building these delicate devices at their final test locations. RadiaBeam Technologies proposes to design and build a cryomodule that operates without any cryo-liquids utilizing cryocoolers and conductive cooling. Removing the large expense of cryo- fluids also reduces transportation concerns since the cryomodule becomes just a vacuum device, and not a potentially high-pressure vessel. Further, RadiaBeam will implement the necessary analysis to make such cryomodules consistent with the deployment on a mobile platform. In Phase I, the cryomodule design and analysis will be fostered to an advanced concept to be presented for phase II fabrication. This will include the necessary thermal, structural, and magnetic shielding analysis. We will further perform ancillary component research and selection of the cryocooler, compressors and a closed loop chiller needed for final deployment.This device would have immediate benefit to existing SRF facilities now as an independent module utilized for capability expansion. This product would also address the desire of fostering compact SRF technology into industry and small laboratories. Some examples of typical areas of interest that would apply are: cargo inspection and security, food irradiation, bulk material treatment, and environmental issues such as waste water treatment.

SRF cavities are starting to be recognized as not only research devices but as devices that might be able to step in as an improved alternative to existing non-superconducting accelerator technology. The largest issue in fostering this change in applicable areas is the cost of the infrastructure and cryotechnology required when maintaining cryo-liquids. This cost has become synonymous with the term SRF cavity, limiting people’s expectations from the technology. Further, the few small cryomodules that have been developed have not invested in the level of analysis required for field deployment, instead focusing on building these delicate devices at their final test locations. RadiaBeam Technologies proposes to design and build a cryomodule that operates without any cryo-liquids utilizing cryocoolers and conductive cooling. This will eliminate the large expense of cryo-fluids and further reduce transportation concerns, since the cryomodule becomes just a vacuum device, not a potentially high-pressure vessel. Further, RadiaBeam’s design will perform and implement the necessary analysis to make the cryomodule mobile for deployment. The project is a collaboration with Fermilab, which is providing the SRF cavities and other valuable components needed for the demonstration. In Phase I, we generated an advanced deployable conductively cooled cryomodule design. The design included consideration for mobility and identified an appropriate cavity with associated ancillary components in preparation for final engineering. The cryomodule currently supports four cryocoolers with a total of 8 watts of cooling power at 4.2K. Additionally, thermal, structural and magnetic field studies were performed to ensure baseline validation and safety consideration exists justifying feasibility. In Phase II, the cryomodule design advanced concept generated in Phase I will be put through engineering review and updated, then fabricated and validated in conjunction Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory through the use of one of their existing cavities. This will include the necessary updating the cryomodule to fit their cavity and meet specific design specifications surrounding it, before fabrication. We will further take advantage of FNAL’s many years of SRF experience as they lead the validation effort in confirming a robust cryomodule has been built. This device would have immediate benefit to existing SRF facilities now as an independent module utilized for capability expansion. This product would also address the desire of fostering compact SRF technology into industry and small laboratories. In addition, this project is an important step in the development of a compact, stand-alone SRF linac for industrial applications, such as medical device sterilization, food irradiation cargo inspection, and environmental uses such as waste water treatment.