A cryogen-free superconducting magnet design for Maglev vehicle applications

A novel refrigerated superconducting magnet design for application to magnetic levitation vehicles for US transportation is presented. The magnet requires no liquid cryogens and offers improved size, weight, and reliability relative to conventional liquid helium pool cooled magnets. Niobium tin superconductor allows the magnet to be operated at a nominal temperature of 8 K, which is attainable at design heat loads with a conventional Gifford-McMahon cryogenic refrigerator. The magnet and the single thermal radiation shield are cooled by conduction from the two stations of the refrigerator. Higher temperature operation minimizes the likelihood of a magnet quench by virtue of the relatively high material heat capacity. The electromagnetic structural, and thermal design of the magnet and cryostat are presented.<>