2024 Faculty Courses School of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate major in Mechanical Engineering
Cryogenic Engineering
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Mechanical Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Tetsuji Okamura
- Class Format
- Lecture (HyFlex)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- MEC.E532
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Lectures will be given to understand the phenomena of superconductivity that is anomalous behavior at very low temperatures where the quantum effects cannot be ignored, and to cultivate a wide range of insights from the basics of superconductivity to cryogenic systems through the study of superconducting applications from the viewpoint of effective energy utilization.
1. Principles and applications of superconductivity phenomena occurring at extremely low temperatures, refrigeration and cooling technology for utilizing extremely low temperatures, heat insulation technology and refrigerators
2. The latest technology related to superconducting magnets and superconducting equipment using cryogenic technology, examples of low temperature environments for space engineering and hydrogen society
Course description and aims
1. Students will be able to explain the nature of the superconducting phenomenon and the principle of cryogenic temperature generation.
2. Students will be able to perform a simple thermal design calculation in industrial equipment, and to find out the technological development elements that are necessary for engineering as superconducting and cryogenic applications.
Keywords
Cryogenic temperature, Superconductivity, Refrigeration, Cooling
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In addition to the nature of superconductivity and the foundation necessary for the generation of extremely low temperatures, we will introduce an example in which a failure in the experiment triggered a serious discovery, an example where a small amount of flatfish triggered the Nobel Prize, an example in which the idea of reversal led to practical use, an example of using the real state (properties) instead of the ideal state learned in physics to high school, in the process of discovery of the superconducting phenomenon and the development of cooling technology.
We will do exercises using a calculator as an attempt to apply the basics of heat transfer and thermodynamics learned in undergraduate schools to the design of actual cryogenic equipment.
We will set up a report assignment for each class to check your learning progress. We will analyze trends in the answers in your report and provide feedback on common mistakes and their explanations.
*Be sure to bring a calculator for the lecture.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The way to Absolute Zero - Why did mankind need low temperatures?- | Understand the historical background of low temperature technology. |
| Class 2 | Properties of superconducting wires and magnets -Innovative superconducting wires and coils- | Understand the research and development for improving the performance of superconducting wires and magnets. |
| Class 3 | Cryogenic cooling -Cryogenic refrigerant- | Understand cooling systems using cryogenic refrigerants and develop a sense of the costs needed for refrigeration. |
| Class 4 | Thermal engineering for refrigeration -It gets cold because of the real gas- | Understand the principles of cryogenic refrigeration. |
| Class 5 | Unusual refrigeration technology -cooling with sound, cooling with magnet- | Understand new technologies for non-fluorocarbon refrigeration. |
| Class 6 | Cryogenic refrigerator – Pump up heat from cryogenic temperature to room temperature | Understand cooling systems using cryogenic Understand the operating principle of cryogenic refrigerators and to be able to quantitatively evaluate their performance. |
| Class 7 | Technology for maintaining low temperature -Cutting off heat from room temperature- | Understand thermal insulation technology and to be able to perform simple thermal design calculation of cryogenic equipment. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
In order to increase the learning effect, refer to the relevant parts of the lecture materials, etc., and prepare for and review (including assignments) about the content of each class for about 100 minutes each.
Textbook(s)
Textbook is not specified in particular, but lecture materials will be uploaded to T2SCHOLA.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Case Studies in Superconducting Magnets, Yukikazu Iwasa, Springer
Superconducting Magnets, Martin N. Wilson, CLARENDON PRESS OXFORD
Lecture materials are posted on T2SCHOLA.
Evaluation methods and criteria
The acceptance criteria is based on the evaluation of understanding the nature of the superconducting phenomena and the principle of cryogenic temperature generation, and the ability to perform simple thermal design calculations in industrial equipment. A total of 100 points will be given for the final exam. Information on how to take the final exam will be announced during class.
Related courses
- MEC.E311 ： Heat Transfer
- MEC.E201 ： Thermodynamics (Mechanical Engineering)
Prerequisites
It is desirable to take lectures on heat transfer.
Other
[Methods of exchanging opinions or responding to questions]
During class: Students can ask questions at any time by speaking on Zoom or using the chat function and in the lecture room.
Outside of class: Questions will be accepted via the e-mail address provided by the teacher in charge.