Novel High Field Steady State LTS-HTS Hybrid Magnet (Final Report)
The United States has a broad range of university researchers studying bulk properties of quantum materials in intense magnetic fields (B-fields), both in the 5–20 T range at university laboratories, and in the 20–100 T range at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), which hosts more than 1,500 users per year. The experiments provide clear evidence of exciting new phenomena when quantum materials are exposed to extremely high magnetic fields. To understand the structure and dynamics of these new phases of quantum materials, neutron and x-ray scattering experiments under high-field conditions are essential. Unfortunately, steady-state magnets available at US Department of Energy (DOE) facilities for neutron and x-ray scattering have maximum fields ranging from 2–16 T, so direct atomic-scale experimental information is presently unavailable for fields beyond 16 T. Most magnets used for this application employ the low-temperature superconducting (LTS) materials Nb3Sn and NbTi. While it is possible to build solenoids from these materials reaching 23.5 T when operating at 1.8 K, the B-field in the gap region of a split magnet is significantly lower than that on the superconductor itself and it is not practical to build magnets for scattering operating at temperatures lower than 4.2 K. Hence no more than 15 T has been reliably delivered for split magnets while LTS conical magnets have not exceeded 17 T. Resistive/superconducting hybrid magnets have been built to provide as much as 26 T in a conical configuration for neutron scattering while consuming a massive 4MW of electrical power. These types of resistive hybrids are extremely costly to operate and take up an extremely large footprint. With the advent of High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnets, it is now possible to build superconducting x-ray and neutron scattering magnets providing fields well beyond 16 T. In this Phase I effort Energy to Power Solutions (e2P) of Tallahassee, FL in collaboration with the NHMFL (also of Tallahassee, FL) successfully developed a novel approach to the design and construction of a nominal 16 T LTS-HTS steady state hybrid magnet at a much lower cost than what are currently available using existing resistive-LTS hybrid designs or competitive LTS-HTS hybrid designs. We designed and fabricated a slightly modified UHF hybrid coil winding topology based upon the NHMFL’s successful “double-pancake” style 32 T LTS-HTS hybrid design (see section 1.2.2) in synergistic combination with e2P’s successful lower fabrication cost “2-in-hand layer-wind” HTS magnet topology (see section 6). In order to ensure successful implementation of these UHF LTS-HTS hybrid magnets, serious technical challenges remain in Phase II involving the Quench Protection System (QPS-see section 2.2.2) and mechanical strains arising from induced magnetization currents (see section 2.2.3) in the HTS insert coil that if not properly addressed will certainly lead to costly failures during installation and commissioning of these systems at DOE-NS facilities.
- Research Organization:
- Tai-Yang Research Company
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Contributing Organization:
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0020596
- OSTI ID:
- 1907964
- Type / Phase:
- SBIR (Phase I)
- Report Number(s):
- DOE-e2P-20596-FR
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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