Magni Research
High Temperature Design
With a combined 30 years of experience designing experimental apparatus to tackle challenging questions in rock mechanics, chemical mobility in fluids and magmatism, we can help you solve it.
Examples of experimental designs from past projects are included below.
Horizontally Oriented Cold-Seal
Horizontally oriented cold-seal pressure vessels are designed to hold pressures from 0-3 kbar (43,500 psi) and temperatures that reach ~900°C. Samples are placed in a precious metal capsule (e.g., Au, Pt) in the vessel hotspot, followed by a filler rod (to reduce convection in the fluid). The vessel is then place in a horizontal furnace.
At the conclusion of the experiment, the vessel is removed from the furnace then plunged into a bucket of water. This vessel is used in experimental petrology to equilibrate minerals, melts and fluids and has potential use in developing batch reactor tests on drilling materials, casement, and cements. Pressure is maintained in the apparatus using conical seals.
This design was established by Carnegie Geophysical Lab in the 1920's. Dr. Waters builds and maintains these systems.
Vertically Oriented Cold-Seal Vessels
Vertically oriented cold-seal pressure vessels are designed to hold pressures from 0-2 kbar (29,000 psi) and temperatures that reach ~1200°C. Samples are suspended in a precious metal capsule (e.g., Au, Pt) in the vessel hotspot, using internal magnets and an externally mounted electromagnet. Pressures are maintained with conical seals.
At the conclusion of the experiment, the external electromagnet is turned off, causing the experiment to fall into an internal cold spot, resulting in a near instantaneous quench. This vessel is used in experimental petrology to produce glasses in low viscosity melts and reduce kinetic effects during cooling.
This design was developed by Dr. Waters in 2014 and 2015 in collaboration with machinist Tim Gooding at National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, based on a Rockland Resarch product..
Specialized cooling heads with custom window
Utilizing high temperature furnaces capable of reaching 1500°C and controlling atmosphere using gas mixtures (CO-CO2 blends) to control oxygen fugacity requires special gas-tight configurations. These furnaces are vertically oriented so that they can be equipped with a drop-quench mechanism, which releases a molten material and sample holder into cool water preserving the high temperature condition of the experiment.
Dr. Waters designed new cooling heads for her lab, that has the ability to introduce liquid water into the flight tube, while isolating experimental gas mix from atmosphere. The new design also includes (1) a window that enabled the user to visually inspect the status of the experiment during the run and during quench, and (2) a threaded design for the quench cap which enables a simple disconnection procedure. This design promotes experimental integrity and safe operating procedures as the flight tube and experimental gasses remain isolated until the termination of the experiment. (Pictures are from an experiment conducted in Dr. Waters furnace).
New Flow Through Designs
Dr. Rinehart and Dr. Waters are working to combine materials/designs used in high temperature and high pressure experiments to create new flow through reactor systems, which have novel applications in geothermal systems.
These designs are funded through private partnerships and public (DOE) grants. Both Dr. Rinehart and Dr. Waters have an extensive history of vessel operation, development and grantsmanship.