The CTD section is involved in the development of helium refrigerator-cum-liquefier (HRL) plant and its components. Its target is to develop HRL plant with complexity and reliability needed for superconducting fusion machines. HRL plant involves development of different systems, subsystems and components. HRL plant has mainly 4 systems: 1) Helium Compressor and oil removal system (CORS), 2) Cold box system, 3) instrumentation, controls and data acquisition system and 4) Utilities system. This section involves in the development of various cryogenic technologies from component level up to plant integration level with comprehensive testing. This development activity has three main experimental systems: Helium CORS, Cold Box system and Cryogenic Heat Exchanger Test bed. In Mar-2023, the indigenously developed HRL plant, having about 90% indigenous content, was tested in 3 modes of operations for cooling power: 200 W at 4.5 K, 600 W at 18 K and 80 ltr/hr liquefaction rate at 4.5 K. This section is continuing its effort to make HRL plant fully indigenous with higher cooling capacity.
Developed systems with subsystem and components:
a) Cold Box System: Plate-fin Heat exchangers, Helium turbines, Cryogenic valves, Helium gas purifier
b) Helium CORS: Secondary oil removal sub-system and warm gas management sub-system
c) Instruments, controls and data acquisition system
d) Heat Exchanger Test beds: Vacuum chamber with heat exchangers, helium circulator, etc.
