Cold Storage and Release Characteristics of a Thermal Battery Unit Using Solid Nitrogen and Solid Nitrogen Impregnated in Metal Foam

Large cold storage capacity is very important to maintain the stable working condition of a superconducting magnet. Solid nitrogen is frequently used for cold storage at cryogenic temperatures. In this paper, we report the experimental investigation of the cold storage and cold release characteristics of a thermal battery unit using solid nitrogen, as well as the combination of solid nitrogen and copper foam under different conditions. In order to enhance the heat transfer without significantly compromising the cold storage capacity, the copper foam is adopted to enhance the effective thermal conductivity of solid nitrogen. It is found that the copper foam can effectively enhance the cold release process, making the cold energy stored effectively utilized.