SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGEMENT OF CRYOGENIC STORAGE VESSELS
Dual level sensing, vacuum monitoring, smart supply cylinders, smart oxygen monitors, and real time data collection functionality are integrated with a cryogenic storage system to improve sample safety and user safety. The dual level sensing system includes two liquid nitrogen level sensors installed into a cryogenic freezer that send redundant level information to a controller. Vacuum monitoring is performed via a gauge, installed on a vacuum port, that communicates data to the controller. The controller further receives level information from supply cylinders and oxygen levels from one or more oxygen monitors. The aforementioned data sources can be integrated into control decisions executed by the controller. In addition, all operational data of the cryogenic storage system is communicated to a cloud-based platform to provide real-time status monitoring, trend analysis, and alarm notifications.
1 . A cryogenic storage system, comprising:
a storage vessel having a storage chamber and configured to contain a cryogenic liquid to provide a cryogenic temperature within the storage chamber suitable for cryogenic storage of items;
a dual-layer level measurement system configured to provide redundant measurement of a level of the cryogenic liquid within the storage vessel; and
a controller configured to obtain level measurements from the dual-layer level measurement system and to control filling operations for the storage vessel based at least in part on the level measurements.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dual-layer level measurement system includes a differential-pressure-based level measurement system.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the dual-layer level measurement system includes a thermistor-based level measurement system.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the differential-pressure-based level measurement system comprises:
a first tube that penetrates into the storage chamber of the storage vessel at a point below the level of cryogenic liquid; and
a second tube that penetrates into the storage chamber at a point above the level of cryogenic liquid,
wherein the first tube provides a high pressure measurement and the second tube provides a low pressure measurement.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to analyze the high pressure measurement and the low pressure measurement to determine the level of cryogenic liquid within the storage vessel.
6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the thermistor-based level measurement system comprises:
a tube having a first penetration into the storage chamber of the storage vessel at a point below the level of cryogenic liquid and a second penetration at a point above the level of cryogenic liquid; and
a circuit board mounted within the tube and carrying a set of thermistors.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the thermistors of the set of thermistors are positioned on the circuit board at discrete points corresponding to particular levels of liquid.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the particular levels of liquid include a lower alarm level, a start fill level, a stop fill level, and a higher alarm level.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the thermistor-based level measurement system further comprises a cable for communicating signals from the thermistors to the controller,
wherein the controller is further configured to interpret respective resistances of the set of thermistors to determine the level of cryogenic liquid within the storage vessel.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a storage container storing a supply of cryogenic liquid for the storage vessel, wherein the storage container includes a level sensor configured to communicate a level of fluid stored in the storage container to the controller.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum measurement device coupled to a vacuum port of the storage vessel and configured to measure a vacuum integrity of the storage vessel.
12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an oxygen monitor configured to measure an oxygen level in a vicinity of the storage vessel and communicate the oxygen level to the controller.
13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cloud platform configured to collect operational data of the cryogenic storage system, analyze the operational data for trends, and communicate notifications to users in response to identified conditions.
14 . A method for a cryogenic storage system, comprising:
collecting data from a differential-pressure-based level measurement system;
determining a first level of cryogenic fluid within a storage vessel based on the data from the differential-pressure-based level measurement system;
collecting data from a thermistor-based level measurement system;
determining a second level of cryogenic fluid within the storage vessel based on the data from the thermistor-based level measurement system; and
controlling filling operations for the storage vessel based at least in part on the first and second levels of cryogenic fluid.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising triggering alarms based on the first and second levels of cryogenic fluid.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
comparing the first level and the second level; and
determining that the first level and second level agree in accordance with validation parameters.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the validation parameters specify a threshold level of disagreement between the first and second levels that is acceptable to determine the levels agree.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thermistor-based level measurement system comprises a set of thermistors and the data collected from the thermistor-based level measurement system includes a resistance value for each thermistor of the set of thermistors.
19 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising determining whether the resistance values for each thermistor of the set of thermistors specify an invalid scenario.
20 . A system, comprising:
a cryogenic storage vessel having a storage chamber configured to contain a cryogenic fluid to provide a cryogenic temperature within the storage chamber;
a differential-pressure-based level measurement system configured to determine a first level measurement of the cryogenic fluid within the storage chamber;
a thermistor-based level measurement system configured to determine a second level measurement of the cryogenic fluid within the storage chamber;
a supply container storing a supply of cryogenic liquid for the cryogenic storage vessel, wherein the supply container includes a level sensor configured to measure a level of fluid stored in the supply container;
a vacuum measurement device coupled to a vacuum port of the cryogenic storage vessel and configured to measure a vacuum integrity of the cryogenic storage vessel;
an oxygen monitor configured to measure an oxygen level in a vicinity of the cryogenic storage vessel;
a controller configured to obtain data from the differential-pressure-based level measurement system, the thermistor-based level measurement system, the level sensor of the supply container, the vacuum measurement device, and the oxygen monitor, herein the controller executes control actions based on the obtained data; and
a cloud system configured to collect operational data of the system, analyze the operational data for trends, and communicate notifications to users in response to identified conditions.