AMPO POYAM VALVES has delivered 15 highly engineered cryogenic control and on-off angle valves for China's China Initiative Accelerator Driven System (CIADS) project, designed to operate at temperatures as low as 2 Kelvin (K), equivalent to -271.15 deg C.

The valves have been installed in a dedicated testing bench at a facility developed by the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The CIADS initiative is developing a 10-megawatt thermal (MWth) prototype facility in Guangdong, China, to demonstrate high-power coupled transmutation technology.

The installation includes several advanced testing platforms, including a 500 MeV superconducting linear accelerator (sc-Linac), a high-power lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) target test facility and a subcritical reactor core test assembly designed to achieve 2.5 MW beam-target coupling.

The 15 valves are designed to regulate fluid flow under extreme operating conditions using liquid helium at 2 K.

Their deployment represents a significant engineering achievement for AMPO, which has specialised in cryogenic valve solutions since 1964.

Engineering for extreme conditions

According to the company, the project presented some of its most demanding technical requirements, requiring valves capable of operating reliably in combined cryogenic and vacuum environments. Maintaining exceptionally low leakage rates under both pressure and vacuum conditions was a critical design requirement.

The equipment must also withstand radiation exposure, adding further complexity to the engineering process.

 AMPO addressed these challenges through specialised sealing materials and a remote positioning system, as conventional electronic components cannot operate reliably under such conditions.

Another notable feature is the valves' compact dimensions. With a DN2 passage diameter, they are the smallest valves ever manufactured by AMPO, marking a milestone in the company's engineering capabilities.

To ensure accurate performance, AMPO used advanced engineering tools and specialised sizing software to determine the optimal valve dimensions based on the customer's specified operating conditions.

Supporting advanced energy technologies

AMPO Service and the company's local team in China also supported the project, participating in the installation phase in October to ensure the successful integration of the valves into the testing bench.

The project demonstrates AMPO's capabilities in developing specialised equipment for complex industrial and scientific applications requiring extreme temperature resistance, tight sealing and operational reliability.

The expertise gained from working with liquid helium at temperatures of 2 K could also support emerging energy applications, particularly hydrogen technologies, which present similar challenges involving extremely low temperatures, leakage prevention and equipment reliability.

By expanding its capabilities in extreme cryogenic applications, AMPO aims to strengthen its contribution to advanced energy technologies and the wider energy transition. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service