Summary
Superconducting RF cavities of the next generation of accelerators such as the challenging FCC project coordinated by CERN may require superfluid helium refrigeration down to 1.6 K. Magnetic refrigeration working below 4.2 K can be an alternative to standard compression/expansion helium refrigeration. This technique of magnetic refrigeration also called adiabatic demagnetization is currently used in our Low Temperature Laboratory (DSBT) for space activities to reach temperatures lower than 1 K at low heat load (a few W) for space detector cooling. DSBT is now developing magnetic refrigeration around 1.5 K and has pre-designed a laboratory small-scale prototype (W-range). A better understanding of internal heat losses and transfers and their influences on magnetic refrigeration performances is now required to improve the present pre-design.
Based on these previous works, the proposed internship will have two objectives. First, the intern will analyze the previous results and perform additional experimental tests to quantify and to improve the internal heat losses and heat transfers (boiling, condensation, insulation) in dedicated test benches simulating the magnetic refrigeration cycle (operating magnet with variable field). Second, the intern will have to improve the pre-design of the small-scale prototype integrating optimized magnet and heat transfer solutions based on the outcomes of the first step.

Requested skills
Cryogenics, Magnetic design, Thermal design, Instrumentation, Experimental works

Keywords
Cryogenics, Magnetic refrigeration, Instrumentation

Contact
François Millet - Phone: 04 38 78 93 10