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Title: Apparatus and method for maintaining low temperatures about an object at a remote location

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for maintaining a body at cryogenic temperatures at a remote location such as down a borehole for an extended period of time. A housing contains a body comprising a material having a high specific heat at cryogenic temperatures such as between about 2 and 15 K. The body contains an orifice for containing an instrument or instruments operable at superconducting temperatures. The apparatus is precooled at the surface and lowered into a borehole to a desired depth, such as 2 to 3 miles. The instruments are operated, and the apparatus withdrawn, the material of the body maintaining the very low temperatures at which the instrument(s) operate for a sufficient period of time at the remote or downhole location. The material may comprise a rare earth compound, such as Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 Se.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S or GdAlO.sub.3. Monoclinic and C-phase gadolinium oxides work well. A low temperature is maintainable at a remote location for several hours.

Inventors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. (Los Alamos, NM)
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864270
Patent Number(s):
4340405
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25D - REFRIGERATORS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatus; method; maintaining; temperatures; remote; location; disclosure; directed; cryogenic; borehole; extended; period; time; housing; contains; comprising; material; specific; heat; 15; orifice; containing; instrument; instruments; operable; superconducting; precooled; surface; lowered; desired; depth; miles; operated; withdrawn; operate; sufficient; downhole; comprise; rare; earth; compound; gd; gdalo; monoclinic; c-phase; gadolinium; oxides; temperature; maintainable; hours; specific heat; cryogenic temperature; superconducting temperatures; cryogenic temperatures; rare earth; remote location; sufficient period; extended period; earth compound; housing contains; desired depth; gadolinium oxide; downhole location; superconducting temperature; /62/165/505/

Citation Formats

Steyert, Jr., William A., and Overton, Jr., William C. Apparatus and method for maintaining low temperatures about an object at a remote location. United States: N. p., 1982. Web.
Steyert, Jr., William A., & Overton, Jr., William C. Apparatus and method for maintaining low temperatures about an object at a remote location. United States.
Steyert, Jr., William A., and Overton, Jr., William C. Fri . "Apparatus and method for maintaining low temperatures about an object at a remote location". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864270.
@article{osti_864270,
title = {Apparatus and method for maintaining low temperatures about an object at a remote location},
author = {Steyert, Jr., William A. and Overton, Jr., William C.},
abstractNote = {The disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for maintaining a body at cryogenic temperatures at a remote location such as down a borehole for an extended period of time. A housing contains a body comprising a material having a high specific heat at cryogenic temperatures such as between about 2 and 15 K. The body contains an orifice for containing an instrument or instruments operable at superconducting temperatures. The apparatus is precooled at the surface and lowered into a borehole to a desired depth, such as 2 to 3 miles. The instruments are operated, and the apparatus withdrawn, the material of the body maintaining the very low temperatures at which the instrument(s) operate for a sufficient period of time at the remote or downhole location. The material may comprise a rare earth compound, such as Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 Se.sub.3, Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S or GdAlO.sub.3. Monoclinic and C-phase gadolinium oxides work well. A low temperature is maintainable at a remote location for several hours.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982}
}