Superconducting Magnet Current Lead Using Cold Head Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lead designs for superconducting magnets in magnetic resonance systems conduct external heat and ohmic heat, leading to instability and economic losses due to quenching, with existing solutions having complex structures and inefficiencies in heat management.
Innovation Solution
A current lead system where the cold head is used as one of the current leads, either as positive or negative, and the current lead is used as the other, reducing the number of leads and simplifying the structure by eliminating the need for separate turret and side tubes, thereby minimizing heat conduction and maintaining a stable superconducting environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fixed current leads are used to supply power to the superconducting magnet, then the operation convenience is improved, but external heat and ohmic heat are conducted to the superconducting magnet causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cold head and current lead into a single integrated component. The cold head serves dual functions as both a refrigeration device and a current lead, eliminating the need for separate current leads that would conduct heat to the superconducting magnet. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational convenience while preventing heat conduction that would compromise superconducting stability.
2Reliability
If detachable current leads are used to prevent heat conduction, then the superconducting environment stability is improved, but the structure becomes complex and requires experienced handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cold head and current lead into one component, eliminating the need for detachable connections. This single integrated structure maintains superconducting stability by preventing heat conduction while avoiding the structural complexity and handling difficulties of detachable current leads.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold head is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: refrigeration and current conduction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detachable current leads, reducing structural complexity while maintaining the stability benefits of heat isolation.
3Reliability
If separate turret tube and side tube are used for current leads and cold head, then the heat conduction is reduced, but the device structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cold head and current lead into a single integrated component that is provided in one tube (either turret tube or side tube). This eliminates the need for separate tubes for current leads and cold head, reducing device structural complexity while maintaining effective heat conduction control through the integrated design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces heat conduction to the superconducting magnet, enhancing the stability of the superconducting environment and simplifying the design of the current lead system, reducing economic losses and operational downtime.
Implementation Method 1
Heat can be conducted to the superconducting magnet via the current leads
Implementation Method 2
when it is magnetized or demagnetized, a huge current of a few hundred amperes will pass through the current leads, and due to the resistance in the current leads themselves, the ohm heat resulting from the resistance under the effects of the huge current can also be conducted to the superconducting magnet
Data Source
AI summary
A current lead for the superconducting magnet of a magnetic resonance system, the superconducting magnet being refrigerated by a cold head, has a positive current lead and a negative current lead electrically connected to the superconducting magnet for magnetization thereof. The cold head is electrically connected to the superconducting magnet and is used as one of the positive and negative current leads. The cold head is used as the positive current lead or the negative current lead so as to reduce the number of current leads as well as the heat conducted by the current lead, therefore it maintains a stable superconducting environment more efficiently. Furthermore, the cold head and the current lead can be provided in the same conduit without the need to design a separated turret tube and side tube, and the structure of the current leads of the superconducting magnet of the magnetic resonance system is simplified.