HTS magnets: stability; protection; cryogenics; economics; current stability/protection activities at FBML Original Research Article

The unique features that distinguish a high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet from a low-temperature superconducting (LTS) magnet are: (1) operating temperature and (2) temperature span over which the magnet remains superconducting. Thus, for two magnets, one HTS and the other LTS, both satisfying the same set of field specifications, the operating temperature and the operating range of temperature of the HTS magnet are generally an order of magnitude greater than that of the LTS magnet. In this CHATS 2002 Workshop, four issues, i.e., stability, protection, cryogenics, and economic issues will be examined as they are impacted by the two unique features, first as a general introduction to this presentation, between HTS and LTS magnets. This is followed by discussion of economics of large-scale HTS devices, specifically of fusion; electric power devices; high-energy physics; research-purpose NMR; and high-B DC magnets. The paper concludes with a presentation of preliminary results of stability/protection research presently being performed at the FBML.