Presentation Information
[AP7-01-INV]First Demonstration of a Conduction-Cooled MI REBCO Magnet with Pulsating Heat Pipes for Mobile and High-Field Uses
*Philippe Fazilleau1 (1. CEA Saclay (France))
Keywords:
magnet,hts,php,mi winding,conduction cooled
This work presents the development and experimental validation of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) magnet, with a particular focus on its innovative conduction cooling system. The centerpiece of the study is a metal-as-insulation (MI) REBCO double-pancake magnet, designed for 10 T-class operation and cooled to neon temperatures (30 K) using a single two-stage cryocooler in combination with two cryogenic pulsating heat pipes (PHP) as thermal links.
This cooling configuration represents a world-first for HTS magnets, eliminating the need for liquid cryogens. Such an approach is especially suited for mobile or transportable magnets, as well as for high-field magnets where traditional bath cooling is impractical due to significant magneto-gravitational forces. The conduction cooling system, leveraging PHP technology, enables efficient thermal management even under dynamic and transient heat loads encountered during alternating current (AC) operation.
A comprehensive series of tests was performed to characterize the magnet’s operational limits, quench behavior, AC losses, and current stability. Special emphasis was placed on AC loss measurements, which demonstrated the system’s ability to manage transient heat dissipation without liquid refrigerants. Dedicated simulations of screening currents within the MI winding were developed to complement the experimental work, providing direct comparison between measured and calculated results.
The magnet achieved a maximum central field of 4.24 T and maintained a 1.72 T field for over six hours. These results confirm the effectiveness and robustness of the conduction cooling system with PHPs, establishing a new benchmark for cryogen-free operation of HTS magnets in demanding applications.
This cooling configuration represents a world-first for HTS magnets, eliminating the need for liquid cryogens. Such an approach is especially suited for mobile or transportable magnets, as well as for high-field magnets where traditional bath cooling is impractical due to significant magneto-gravitational forces. The conduction cooling system, leveraging PHP technology, enables efficient thermal management even under dynamic and transient heat loads encountered during alternating current (AC) operation.
A comprehensive series of tests was performed to characterize the magnet’s operational limits, quench behavior, AC losses, and current stability. Special emphasis was placed on AC loss measurements, which demonstrated the system’s ability to manage transient heat dissipation without liquid refrigerants. Dedicated simulations of screening currents within the MI winding were developed to complement the experimental work, providing direct comparison between measured and calculated results.
The magnet achieved a maximum central field of 4.24 T and maintained a 1.72 T field for over six hours. These results confirm the effectiveness and robustness of the conduction cooling system with PHPs, establishing a new benchmark for cryogen-free operation of HTS magnets in demanding applications.