A Carbon Dioxide Cooled Cryostat for Use in a Gammacell 220 Co-60 Irradiator

J P Sephton and P H G Sharpe

Radiation Dosimetry Group, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK.

Introduction
Developments in the bio-medical sciences over recent years have involved increased use of high dose gamma irradiation of samples at cryogenic temperatures. A particular application is the sterilisation of medical devices containing active pharmaceutical or biochemical agents. A requirement for both reference and routine dosimetry at low temperatures has therefore arisen. The high dose irradiation facilities at NPL previously only allowed routine irradiations to take place over the temperature range 20 C to 55 C. To meet the demand for low temperature irradiations, a cryostat has been developed for use in an MDS Nordion Gammacell 220 Co-60 irradiator.

Platinum resistance thermometers are used to measure the temperature in the heat exchangers and sample compartment. The controller adjusts the frequency of the CO2 pulses and the power supplied to the resistors to obtain the required temperature in the sample compartment. The resistive heaters in the upper and lower heat exchangers are independently controlled to help establish a uniform temperature distribution in the sample compartment. Fig. 3 shows a view of the partially assembled cryostat. Details of the lower heat exchanger can be seen. An outer view of the cryostat is shown in Fig. 4. The samples are held in a water equivalent polystyrene phantom. Sample temperature is monitored by probes embedded in the phantom.

Design requirements
The important design requirements are summarised below. Design Requirements
Temperature range Temperature control precision Sample compartment dimensions Dose rate uniformity Maximum overall dimensions Radiation hardness (dose) Radiation hardness (dose rate) -70 C to +55 C 2 C 40 mm x 40 mm x 70 mm 0.7% 150 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm Up to 100 MGy Up to 15 kGy hr-1
Figure 1. Schematic

The CO2 then passes to a gas tight chamber before being vented to the outside. The chamber provides insulation between the cryostat and the irradiation cell. Electrical heating is provided using a pair of 6 Watt resistors embedded in each heat exchanger block. The nature of the installation allows much higher powers to be dissipated in the resistors if necessary. Fig. 2 shows the connections between the cryostat, the PC based controller and the CO2 system.

Figure 3. Cryostat partially assembled

Testing
Individual components of the system have been bench tested and demonstrated to meet design requirements concerning temperature. The final system, as shown in the photographs, is ready for installation and testing in the Gammacell 220 irradiator.

The combination of high dose rates and low temperatures imposes significant constraints on the use of components and materials. The requirement to withstand doses of the order of 100 MGy restricts the choice of materials to metals, ceramics and specific polymers such as polystyrene (PS) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Description
The method of cooling chosen was the expansion of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) delivered in pulses at controlled intervals. Heating is by means of resistive elements. A schematic of the holder is shown in Fig. 1. Liquid CO2 is supplied to the cryostat via a solenoid valve and capillary tube. The CO2 expands while passing down a channel in the sample holder to the lower heat exchanger. The CO2 is forced to travel along a convoluted path in the heat exchanger to improve the thermal efficiency. The upper heat exchanger provides further cooling.

Figure 2. System diagram

Figure 4. External view