On fault-mode phenomenon in no-insulation superconducting magnets: A preventive approach

Abstract

Here, we present experimental and analytical results of a preventive approach applied to a fault-mode phenomenon caused by electrodes or power-source failure in a no-insulation (NI) high-temperature superconducting REBa2Cu3O7−x (REBCO, RE = rare earth) magnet. It is generally agreed that the NI magnets, at least those of laboratory scale, are self-protected from overheating and, therefore, from quenching, chiefly because of turn-to-turn current bypassing unique to NI. However, these NI magnets do experience unexpected quenches, e.g., when the current through the magnet suddenly drops due to the aforementioned fault-mode phenomenon. Here, we report this phenomenon of a sudden-discharging-triggered quench of an NI REBCO coil, conduction-cooled, and operated at 4.2 K. We also present our preventive approach for this phenomenon that relies on an appropriately designed resistor shunted across the coil terminals. With this shunt resistor, a quench was prevented by suppressing the quench initiating turn-to-turn heat and induced overcurrent within the NI winding, and the coil current decayed safely.