Measurements of Magnetic Field Pattern in a Short LHC Dipole Model

The magnetic field in superconducting accelerator magnets has a fine structure with longitudinal periodicity. This periodic pattern, with period identical to the cable twist pitch, is originated by uneven current distribution within the cable. Here we present results of measurements of the periodic pattern performed in an LHC dipole model. We report in particular the results obtained powering the magnet with simple current steps and typical operation cycles as will be used during accelerator operation. The main result of the analysis is the time variation of the amplitude of the periodic pattern, from which we infer the evolution of the current distribution in the cable. We discuss the dependence of the pattern amplitude on ramp and pre-cycle parameters

Analytical Calculation of Current Distribution in Multistrand Superconducting Cables

In recent years the problem of current distribution in multistrand superconducting cables has received increasing attention for large scale superconductivity applications due to its effect on the stability of fusion magnets and the field quality of accelerator magnets. A modelling approach based on distributed parameters has revealed to be very effective in dealing with long cables made of some tens or hundreds of strands. In this paper we present a fully analytical solution equation for a distributed parameters model in cables made of an arbitrary number of strands, whose validity is subjected to symmetry conditions generally satisfied in practical cables. We give in particular analytical formulae of practical use for the estimation of the maximum strand currents, time constants and redistribution lengths as a function of the cable properties and the external voltage source

Studies of Decay and Snapback Effects on LHC Dipole Magnets

LHC model magnets have dynamic field imperfections of various nature. Two effects of particular importance are field component decay during injection and ''snapback'' during the first few seconds of acceleration, which happens over typically 15 to 20 mT. The dynamic behaviour of the model magnets was measured as a function of several parameters in the operation cycle and powering history. We demonstrate how the systematic variation of only one single operation cycle parameter can affect the behaviour of the sextupole component

Analysis of Electrical Coupling Parameters in Superconducting Cables

The analysis of current distribution and redistribution in superconducting cables requires the knowledge of the electric coupling among strands, and in particular the interstrand resistance and inductance values. In practice both parameters can have wide variations in cables commonly used such as Rutherford cables for accelerators or Cable-in-Conduits for fusion and SMES magnets. In this paper we describe a model of a multi-stage twisted cable with arbitrary geometry that can be used to study the range of interstrand resistances and inductances that is associated with variations of geometry. These variations can be due to cabling or compaction effects. To describe the variations from the nominal geometry we have adopted a cable model that resembles to the physical process of cabling and compaction. The inductance calculation part of the model is validated by comparison to semi-analytical results, showing excellent accuracy and execution speed

An Analytical Benchmark for the Calculation of Current Distribution in Superconducting Cables

The validation of numerical codes for the calculation of current distribution and AC loss in superconducting cables versus experimental results is essential, but could be affected by approximations in the electromagnetic model or incertitude in the evaluation of the model parameters. A preliminary validation of the codes by means of a comparison with analytical results can therefore be very useful, in order to distinguish among different error sources. We provide here a benchmark analytical solution for current distribution that applies to the case of a cable described using a distributed parameters electrical circuit model. The analytical solution of current distribution is valid for cables made of a generic number of strands, subjected to well defined symmetry and uniformity conditions in the electrical parameters. The closed form solution for the general case is rather complex to implement, and in this paper we give the analytical solutions for different simplified situations. In particular we examine the influence of different boundary conditions, the effect of a localised resistance in the middle of the cable such as in the case of quench and the effects of localized time dependent magnetic fluxes acting on the cable

Effects of Neutron Irradiation on Pinning Force Scaling in State-of-the-Art Nb3Sn Wires

We present an extensive irradiation study involving five state-of-the-art Nb3Sn wires which were subjected to sequential neutron irradiation up to a fast neutron fluence of 1.6 * 10^22 m^-2 (E > 0.1 MeV). The volume pinning force of short wire samples was assessed in the temperature range from 4.2 to 15 K in applied fields of up to 7 T by means of SQUID magnetometry in the unirradiated state and after each irradiation step. Pinning force scaling computations revealed that the exponents in the pinning force function differ significantly from those expected for pure grain boundary pinning, and that fast neutron irradiation causes a substantial change in the functional dependence of the volume pinning force. A model is presented, which describes the pinning force function of irradiated wires using a two-component ansatz involving a point-pinning contribution stemming from radiation induced pinning centers. The dependence of this point-pinning contribution on fast neutron fluence appears to be a universal function for all examined wire types.Comment: 8 page

A General Model for Thermal, Hydraulic and Electric Analysis of Superconducting Cables

In this paper we describe a generic, multi-component and multi-channel model for the analysis of superconducting cables. The aim of the model is to treat in a general and consistent manner simultaneous thermal, electric and hydraulic transients in cables. The model is devised for most general situations, but reduces in limiting cases to most common approximations without loss of efficiency. We discuss here the governing equations, and we write them in a matrix form that is well adapted to numerical treatment. We finally demonstrate the model capability by comparison with published experimental data on current distribution in a two-strand cable

13a Giornata Tecnica della vite e del vino: San Michele all’Adige, 16 dicembre 2020

1openopenBottura, M.Bottura, M

A continuum model for current distribution in Rutherford cables

An analysis of eddy currents induced in flat Rutherford-type cables by external time dependent magnetic fields has been performed. The induced currents generate in turn a secondary magnetic field which has a longitudinal periodicity (periodic pattern). The dependence of the amplitude of the pattern on the history of the cable excitation has been investigated. The study has been carried out with two different models for the simulation of current distribution in Rutherford cables, namely a network model, based on a lumped parameters circuit and a "continuum" model, based on a distributed parameters circuit. We show the results of simulations of the current distribution in the inner cable of a short LHC dipole model in different powering conditions and compare them to experimental data. (12 refs)