Persistent Current Switch Heating Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The persistent current switch in existing technologies has a high heat capacity due to the use of an insulating substrate between the superconducting film and the heater, which complicates the configuration and reduces heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A superconducting magnet configuration that includes a superconducting coil and a persistent current switch connected in parallel with an alternating-current power supply, pulsed power supply, or charge/discharge circuit, eliminating the need for a heater wire and simplifying the structure by directly passing current through the superconducting wire to generate Joule heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an insulating substrate is provided between the superconducting film and heater to maintain strength, then structural strength is improved, but heat capacity increases and heating efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the insulating substrate from the persistent current switch structure, extracting the problematic component that caused high heat capacity. The superconducting film is now directly connected to the heater without an insulating substrate layer, eliminating the thermal mass that reduced heating efficiency while maintaining structural integrity through alternative design approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-film superconducting materials that can maintain structural strength without requiring thick insulating substrates. The thin-film architecture allows direct thermal coupling between the heater and superconducting film, achieving both mechanical stability and high heating efficiency through the inherent properties of thin-film structures.
2Speed
If the temperature of the persistent current switch in ON state is set close to the critical temperature, then switching speed is improved and refrigerant evaporation is suppressed, but stability decreases due to increased quench risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the temperature-dependent resistance characteristics of the superconducting material by dynamically adjusting the temperature parameter. By controlling the switch temperature to operate near the critical temperature threshold, the system achieves rapid transitions between superconducting and normal states, enabling fast switching while the heater provides precise temperature control to manage quench risks.
3Temperature
If a high-temperature superconductor with critical temperature of 90 K is used, then the operating temperature range is expanded, but the heat capacity increases by one digit or more requiring more efficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the insulating substrate that contributed significantly to the heat capacity of the switch assembly. By extracting this thermal mass, the heating requirement for high-temperature superconductors is reduced, making the switching process more energy-efficient despite the inherently higher operating temperature of 90 K superconductors.
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 allows for high heating efficiency and simplifies the persistent current switch, enabling faster switching and reduced refrigerant evaporation during switching, thereby enhancing the stability and efficiency of the magnetic field generation.
Implementation Method 1
directly passing current through the superconducting wire to generate Joule heat
Implementation Method 2
The superconductor has a resistance of zero (i.e., ON state) when cooled to a temperature of less than or equal to its critical temperature, but becomes a normal conductor and generates resistance therein (i.e., OFF state) when heated to a temperature of greater than or equal to the critical temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a persistent current switch with high heating efficiency by simplifying the configuration of the persistent current switch and reducing the heat capacity. To achieve the object, a superconducting magnet in accordance with the present invention includes a superconducting coil, a persistent current switch, and one of an alternating-current power supply, a pulsed power supply, or a charge/discharge circuit. The one of the alternating-current power supply, the pulsed power supply, or the charge/discharge circuit is connected to a loop circuit of the superconducting coil and the persistent current switch such that it is in parallel with the persistent current switch.