The Energy Saver/Doubler Quench Protection Monitor System

The microprocessor based system to detect quenches in the superconducting magnets is described. Tests conducted over the past two years using a string of twenty superconducting magnets have yielded results having major impact on the design of this system. A network of twenty-four 16-bit microprocessors will monitor the integrated voltage across magnet protection units every 60 Hz line period using isolated voltage to frequency converters. These measurements are compared with the inductive voltage expected. Under transient conditions, the distributed L-C nature of the magnets delays signal propagation as in a transmission line. To achieve the required sensitivity of resistive voltage detection, the inductive voltage for each magnet cell is calculated using two of the six measured dI/dt signals. Prevention of faults to the magnet system by the monitoring connections, minimization of cabling, and matched transient response of all monitoring channels have been considered together in design of the hardware and software.