HTS Magnet Edge Contacts to Eliminate Flying Lead Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
HTS magnets face issues such as vulnerability to cyclical movement and damage in flying lead regions, quenching, and the need for expensive precision parts due to fragile HTS tapes and complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
An HTS magnet design with nested concentric windings and conductor elements providing electrical contact through the axial edge of the coil, eliminating the need for flying leads and integrating thermal connections, electrical insulation, and sensors as a single unit, using ring-shaped conductors and ETI plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flying lead joints are used to supply electrical current to HTS coils, then electrical connection is achieved, but the HTS tapes become vulnerable to cyclical movement, electromagnetic forces, and thermal contraction causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the vulnerable flying lead region by providing electrical connection directly to the axial edge of the coil winding pack. The conductor element is embedded within the winding pack structure itself, removing the exposed HTS tape sections that were previously vulnerable to mechanical damage and cyclical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the electrical connection function with the coil winding pack structure. The conductor element is integrated into the winding pack, combining the support structure and electrical connection into a single unified component, eliminating the need for separate flying leads and joint fixtures.
2Ease of operation
If flying lead regions are used, then electrical current can be supplied to the coil, but these exposed sections lack adjacent HTS turns for current sharing and are at further risk of degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the electrical connection point from the vulnerable flying lead region and relocates it to the axial edge of the coil winding pack. This allows current to be supplied directly to the coil structure without creating exposed HTS tape sections that would lack the protective effect of adjacent turns.
3Manufacturing precision
If precision machined parts are used to guide and support flying leads, then electrical connection stability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support structure and electrical connection into a single integrated conductor element embedded within the winding pack. This eliminates the need for separate precision machined parts to guide and support flying leads, reducing both manufacturing complexity and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection, structural support, and integration within the winding pack. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized components that would require precision machining and complex assembly.
4Adaptability or versatility
If individual HTS tapes are used in winding packs, then flexible coil design is achieved, but the tapes are fragile and easily bent by mishandling during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor element is embedded within the winding pack structure beforehand, providing mechanical support and protection to the HTS tapes during the winding and assembly processes. This pre-established support structure prevents mishandling damage while maintaining the flexibility of individual tape-based coil 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 design minimizes point failures, reduces complexity and cost, improves performance, and allows for efficient heat transfer and current distribution without the need for subsidiary parts, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of HTS magnets.
Implementation Method 1
a coil formed of nested concentric windings, each winding comprising HTS material
Implementation Method 2
each winding comprising HTS material... supply electric current to a portion of at least one of the windings
Implementation Method 3
a conductor element comprising an electrical contact surface through which to supply electric current to a portion of at least one of the windings
Implementation Method 4
improves performance, and allows for efficient heat transfer and current distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A High Temperature Superconductor, HTS, magnet comprising a coil formed of nested concentric windings. Each winding comprises HTS material. The HTS magnet further comprises a conductor element comprising an electrical contact surface through which to supply electric current to a portion of at least one of the windings. The surface provides electrical contact between the conductor element and an axial edge of the coil substantially around the path of the at least one of the windings.