Results from heater-induced quenches of a 4.5 m reference design D dipole for the SSC

Quench studies were performed using a 4.5 m long Reference Design D, SSC dipole to determine the temperature rise of the magnet conductor during a quench by measuring the resistance of the conductor cable in the immediate vicinity of the quench. The single bore magnet was wound with improved NbTi conductor in a 2-layer cosine θ coil configuration of 4.0 cm inner diameter. Eight pairs of voltage taps were installed at various locations on the right side of the inner coil of the magnet. "Spot" heaters were centrally located between the voltage taps of 4 of these pairs on the midplane turn of the inner coil to initiate magnet quenches. A redundant array of voltage taps and heaters was also installed on the left side of the inner coil. The resistance of the conductor was obtained from observations of the current and voltage during a magnet quench. The temperature of the conductor was then determined by comparing its resistance to an R vs T curve appropriate for the conductor. The quantity and the temperature, T, are presented as a function of current, and the maximum conductor temperature is shown as a function of . Measured longitudinal and azimuthal quench propagation velocities are also presented as a function of magnet current, and the temperatures at several locations on the inner magnet coil are plotted as a function of the time after a quench was initiated.