Improvement of Helium gas Recovery system for SST-1

By: Mr.. C. Patel, G.L.N. Srikanth, V.L. Tanna, Atul Gurg, Manoj Singh, and Ketan Patel Institute for Plasma Research, Near Indira Bridge, Bhat, Gandhinagar- 382 428 (India)

SST-1 Cryogenic Group

Introduction
The
HRL (Helium Refrigerator & Liquefier) system with refrigeration capacity of 650W @ 4.5K and Liquefication capacity of 200l/h has been installed and commissioned in the year 2002 and presently under operation. system is experiments dedicated for SST-1 and other Super (Current lead test, SC Joint Test, Coil

The HRL conducting test etc).

The Helium recovery system are needed for recovering the He gas from Plant Process, many times Utility Failure (DM water, Instrument air Failure, Power Failure) & quench mode operation of SC Experiment. Different configuration used for Installation for helium gas bag Present Recovery system: 4 X 40 m3 Gas Balloons and Recovery compressors of 100 Nm3/h and 23.4 Nm3/h

Description of Helium Recovery System Operation

At IPR we have the two recovery compressors with individual gas balloons. The level sensor is used for automatic start/stop of Bauer recovery compressors and Linde recovery compressors by their respective gas balloon. The wire drawn rod type level sensor with micro switch at various length are used for level control of gas balloons as shown in Figure 2. The compressors will be start/stop depending on the filling height of the gas balloons according to the micro level switch connected with gasbag. The micro level switch gives a potential free contact. Figure 1 shows detail scheme of Helium recovery system

Schematic block diagram of HRL and Recovery system

Medium Pressure tank

He compressor & oil removal System

Purifier

Cold Box

Recovery System

IFDCS System

Detail of Recovery System

Gas Balloons with Level control system Recovery Compressors

High Pressure Tank

Detail scheme of Recovery system

Figure 1 Schematic of Recovery system

Gas Balloons of 40 m3 each

Gas Balloon
Level control rod

Level control Micro switch

Safety Valve

Installation of Helium Gas BagNo-3

Installation of Helium Gas Bag No-4

Bauer Helium Recovery Compressor

suction pressure : 1.020Bar suction temperature : +25C Capacity : 100 Nm3/h Operating pressure : 150 Bar With electronic programmable control, Condensate collector unit, & secant (drier) unit.

High Pressure Tank

SAUER Helium Recovery Compressor

suction pressure : 1.020Bar suction temperature : +25C Capacity : 23.4 Nm3/h Operating pressure : 150 Bar

Capacity : 25 Nm3 Operating pressure : 150 bar

P & ID of Helium Recovery system Gas Bag1 Safety Disc1

Gas Bag2
Safety Disc2 HV976 PSH976

Gas Bag3 &4 Comp. Hall

HV977 Secant HV978

Bauer

TO HV975

HV979

NRV981 SAUER Bellow HV970 HV980 For Gas Filling

Linde Helium Recovery Compressor (23.4 Nm3/h)

As shown in Fig. 2 We use micro switch LSL as Low level and LSM as High level. When Gas balloon is empty both micro switch give OFF signal. When Gas balloon start filling level rod comes down and Low level micro switch gives ON signal and if still gas filling continue in balloon High level micro switch gives ON signal then as per logic contactor K59 energizes and recovery compressor START, which transfer gas Figure 3 from gas balloon to High Pressure tank. As Gas balloon evacuating and High level micro switch gives OFF signal but due to hold on contact of K59 recovery compressor still running and when Low level micro switch gives OFF signal then K59 contactor de-energizes and recovery compressor STOP.

He Gas Recovery System

Gas Bag 40 NM3

Quench Recovery Tank

He Gas recovery Compressor ( 150 bar; 1 g/s )

Bauer Helium Recovery Compressor (100 Nm3/h)

For Bauer compressors same type of micro switches used for level sensor with other gas balloons. BY using of same LSL and LSM position micro switches for low level and High level respectively as shown in figure 4. Potential free NO contact energized through level rod when gas balloon fill by Helium gas which can energized contactor K9 and recovery compressor START.

Figure 4

As Gas balloon evacuating and High level micro switch become open due to hold on contact of K59 recovery compressor still ON and when Low level micro switch become open then K9 contactor de-energized and recovery compressor become STOP.

Modified control scheme of Recovery System

With present control scheme of recovery system individual recovery compressor operates with their respective gas balloon and Capacity of both recovery compressors are also different. We have adopted new control scheme for recovery system operations.
As per new scheme when any one of the gas balloon reaches high level (both micro switch closed, Low & High) then both recovery compressor starts due to interlocks with each other and they can stop only when Both gas balloon reaches low level.

In figure 5 the start command of Bauer Interlocks with NO Potential free contact of K59 of Linde. Also Linde Interlocks with NO Potential free contact of K9 of Bauer.

Conclusions
We implemented installation and testing successfully additional 2ns. Helium gas Bag by installing on ceiling of the compressor hall solve the problem of in-rush of helium gas approximate 225 M3 due to quench of SCMS, Power Failure, Vacuum breaking while testing of TF coil and any unexpected events related to Lhe plant shut down while operation.

Modified B-Control is Programmable logistic Control is implemented by adjusting low and High sensor.
Increase reliability and availability of recovery system. Use of Helium recovery system in efficient way.