Stabilization of Cu-Ni based persistent current switch

Stabilization of a persistent current switch with a parallel connection is described. The current transfer behavior for a seven-strand conductor, wound as a persistent current switch, was studied. Each strand current was measured by using Rogowski coils. In the current ramp, negative current flowed into the center strand, which was inverted to a positive direction in about a 2-min time constant. Strand quench was induced by a heater wound in each strand. When one of the outer strands was quenched by its heater, the current was mainly transferred to the nearest three strands including the center strand in about 2 ms. These experimental results agreed well with the calculated results considering the self/mutual inductance for a parallel conductor and the joint resistance. The transferred current of several tens of amperes, which flowed with a few orders of 10000 A/s ramp rate, resulted in the degradation of the whole switch quench current from the conductor critical value.<>