“Key challenges towards the dream direct current magnetic field of 50T via superconducting magnets: conductor deformation and heat dissipation”

Seminar with Jeseok Bang, Ph.D., Research Faculty, Applied Superconductivity Center, NHMFL FSU

Sponsored by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Contacts: Shreyas Balachandran and Alexandre Berger  on behalf of the MAE Graduate Seminar Committee

Abstract: 

Since the first discovery of superconductivity in 1911, magnet scientists and engineers have endeavored to generate higher and higher fields using superconducting magnets. Rare-earth class high-temperature superconductors, also known as rare-earth barium copper oxide (hereafter REBCO), are promising and productive options for this aim. Indeed, one key milestone of using REBCO-coated conductors was the achievement of the record-high direct current magnetic field of 45.5 T using a 14.4 T REBCO insert magnet named ‘Little Big Coil’ and a 31.1 T resistive magnet in 2017. However, more important than achieving this record at that time was the observation that mechanical conductor damage due to locally amplified electromagnetic stress degrades the electromagnetic performance, and this conductor damage leads to heat dissipation and eventually limits the magnet performance. We’ve made a lot of research endeavors to address these mechanical issues over the past few years while still aiming for higher fields, and in the end, we’ve reached a new record of 48.7 T this August. In this talk, I will share what we have done to address this issue over the past three years, what we found from the ‘Little Big Coil’ testbed, and what challenges (mostly mechanical issues, not electromagnetic) remain to achieve the dream field of 50T.