HTS Magnet Coil Winding With Shunt Cables for Uniform Current Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high temperature superconductor magnets face challenges in achieving efficient and uniform current distribution due to asymmetric magnetic field distributions and temperature gradients, particularly in tokamak applications, where regions with higher magnetic fields require more HTS material, necessitating complex coil designs with graded HTS distribution.
Innovation Solution
The method involves winding HTS coils with strategically placed HTS shunt cables between turns to share current and adjust HTS distribution dynamically, allowing for variable HTS amounts in different parts of the coil, reducing the overall HTS needed and maintaining uniform critical current fractions across the coil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wound coil construction is used with uniform HTS cable, then manufacturing is simple, but current distribution becomes non-uniform in asymmetric magnetic fields requiring graded HTS distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating HTS shunt cables at specific locations within the coil structure where additional current-carrying capacity is needed. This creates non-uniform HTS distribution localized to regions experiencing higher magnetic field stress, allowing the coil to maintain uniform current density across all turns while using a simple continuous winding construction method.
2Manufacturing precision
If HTS shunt cables are added to achieve graded HTS distribution, then current distribution uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the HTS shunt cables with the main HTS coil cable by placing them in close proximity and electrically connecting them through conductive material. This integration allows the shunt cables to function as part of the overall current-carrying structure rather than separate components, reducing device complexity while achieving graded HTS distribution and uniform current density.
3Reliability
If more HTS material is used in high field regions, then current carrying capacity improves, but overall HTS quantity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HTS current-carrying structure into two functional components: the main HTS coil cable that forms the continuous winding, and HTS shunt cables that are strategically placed in high-field regions. This segmentation allows concentrated HTS material placement only where needed for enhanced current capacity, rather than uniformly distributing HTS throughout the entire coil, thereby reducing total HTS material quantity while maintaining reliability.
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 approach enables efficient use of HTS material, minimizes resistance, and ensures uniform temperature margins, facilitating rapid quench management and reducing the complexity of coil design by allowing for graded HTS distribution within a wound coil structure.
Implementation Method 1
current can be shared between the HTS shunt cable and the HTS coil cable
Implementation Method 2
winding an HTS coil cable to produce a coil having a plurality of turns
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing an HTS coil is provided. The method comprises winding an ITS coil cable to produce a coil having a plurality of turns. During winding of a turn of the coil, one or more HTS shunt cables are placed adjacent to the previous turn of the coil along a first arc of the coil, and then the turn is wound such that the HTS shunt cable is sandwiched between the turn and the previous turn of the coil such that current can be shared between the HTS shunt cable and the HTS coil cable.