Superconducting Magnet Charging Control via Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Superconducting magnets with partial- or no-insulation face challenges in charging times due to resistive heating, which can lead to overheating and quenching, limiting their application to DC magnets and requiring slow charging processes.
Innovation Solution
A control system that monitors and adjusts current, temperature, and magnetic field using feedback loops and a model to manage charging, allowing for faster charging while preventing overheating by integrating a cooling structure to maintain the superconductor at a suitable temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger current is used to charge the superconducting magnet faster, then the charging time is reduced, but the resistive heating increases causing quenching
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling structure is activated before and during the charging process to preemptively remove heat, allowing larger charging currents to be applied without causing quenching. This enables faster charging by preparing the thermal environment in advance to handle the increased heat load.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling structure acts as an intermediary between the superconducting coil and the heat generated during charging. It provides a thermal pathway to dissipate resistive heating, enabling the system to tolerate higher charging currents that would otherwise cause quenching.
2Reliability
If the charging current is limited to prevent quenching, then the temperature remains stable, but the charging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts charging parameters (current magnitude and ramp rate) based on real-time temperature monitoring and thermal models. This allows optimization of charging speed while maintaining quench prevention by adapting to the actual thermal state of the coil.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from temperature sensors and thermal models to continuously adjust the charging current. This closed-loop control enables faster charging by increasing current when thermal conditions permit and reducing it when approaching quench thresholds, optimizing both speed and safety.
3Productivity
If a cooling structure is added to remove heat during charging, then faster charging is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling structure is integrated with the existing superconducting magnet system, combining thermal management functions with the magnetic field generation system. This merging reduces overall complexity by eliminating separate cooling subsystems and utilizing existing thermal pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling structure is designed to automatically regulate temperature without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. It uses passive thermal conduction and convection mechanisms that self-adjust based on heat load, reducing the need for additional sensors and control electronics.
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
Enables faster charging of superconducting magnets without causing quenching, maintaining the superconductor in a superconducting state, and expanding their application beyond DC magnets to include AC applications.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling structure is thermally coupled to the coil to remove heat caused by charging the superconducting magnet with the current
Implementation Method 2
a coil of superconducting material
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a superconducting magnet comprising a coil of superconducting material. The coil includes electrical terminals. The windings of the coil are separated by a metallic conductor. A control circuit is coupled to the terminals to drive a current through the coil to charge the superconducting magnet and configured to provide a current through the coil that is sufficiently small to avoid a quenching effect of the superconducting magnet but also large enough to charge the magnet within a predetermined time period. A cooling structure is thermally coupled to the coil to remove heat caused by charging the superconducting magnet with the current to allow for the current to be sufficiently large to charge the magnet within the predetermined time period without causing the quenching effect.