Abstract: A superconducting machine includes at least one superconducting coil and a coil support structure arranged with the at least one superconducting coil. The coil support structure includes at least one composite component affixed to the at least one superconducting coil and an interface component in frictional contact with the at least one composite component so as to reduce a likelihood of quench of the at least one superconducting coil.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to using an integrated cooling circuit to provide both forced-flow pre-cooling functionality and closed-loop thermosiphon cooling for persistent mode operation of a superconducting magnet. In one embodiment, the integrated cooling circuit shares a single set of cooling tubes for use with both the forced-flow pre-cooling circuit as well as the closed-loop operating-state cooling circuit.

Abstract: A system for minimizing MGI in a superconducting magnet system of an MRI system includes a thermal shield having bi-metal material. The thermal shield is configured to be disposed about a cold mass of the superconducting magnet system, wherein the bi-metal material is configured to minimize MGI.

Abstract: A system for minimizing MGI in a superconducting magnet system of an MRI system includes a thermal shield having bi-metal material. The thermal shield is configured to be disposed about a cold mass of the superconducting magnet system, wherein the bi-metal material is configured to minimize MGI.

Abstract: A quench protection system for a superconducting machine, such as a superconducting generator having a plurality of series-arranged superconducting coils, includes at least one switch heater electrically coupled to each of the superconducting coils. A quench protection switch is provided in series with the coils, wherein each switch heater is in thermal contact with the quench protection switch. A heater network is configured in parallel with the quench protection switch and is in thermal contact with each of the coils. A quench of any one of the coils triggers a quench of the quench protection switch, wherein the heater network then triggers a quench of all of the remaining coils.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a superconducting generator having an armature and a superconducting field winding set. The armature includes at least one multiphase armature winding set having a plurality of armature windings. The superconducting field winding set is separated by a gap from the armature. The superconducting field winding set includes a plurality of field windings, wherein one of the armature winding set and superconducting field winding set is connectable to rotate with a rotating component of the wind turbine and another of the armature and the superconducting field winding set being non-rotating. The wind turbine also includes a controllable power converter coupled to the at least one multiphase armature winding set and a controller configured to control switching operations of the controllable power converter to effect a phase shift among the plurality of armature windings.

Abstract: A current lead assembly for minimizing heat load to a conduction cooled superconducting magnet during a ramp operation is provided. The current lead assembly includes a vacuum chamber having a through hole to enable a first end of a current lead contact to remain outside the vacuum chamber and a second end of the current lead contact to penetrate within the vacuum chamber. A vacuum boundary wall is located between the vacuum chamber and the current lead contact. At least one superconducting magnet is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber and includes a magnet lead. A second end of the current lead contact is coupled to the magnet lead via an internal lead. A vacuum cap is removably disposed to sealingly encompass therein the first end of the current lead contact during a first state of operation. The first end of the current lead contact is arranged to contact a power supply during a second state of operation, wherein the contact occurs exterior the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A persistent current switch system is presented. One embodiment of the persistent current switch system includes a vacuum chamber having a winding unit and dual cooling paths. The dual cooling paths are configured to circulate a coolant flow. The dual cooling paths are defined by a first cooling path and a second cooling path. The first cooling path includes a solid thermal component disposed in direct contact with the winding unit and the second cooling path includes a cooling tube disposed in direct contact with the winding unit and configured to circulate a coolant therein. The dual cooling paths cool the temperature of the winding unit below the threshold temperature to transition the persistent current switch system from the first mode to the second mode. A method of for cooling a winding unit in a persistent current switch system and a switching system including dual cooling paths are also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging device is described that includes multiple magnetic coils to generate a magnetic field. Additionally, the magnetic resonance imaging device may include one or more radial gaps within some or all of the magnetic coils (e.g., primary magnetic coils, bucking coils, and so forth) in which radial spacers may be located to help preserve the homogeneity of the magnetic isocenter of the primary magnetic coils during operation.

Abstract: A current lead assembly for minimizing heat load to a conduction cooled superconducting magnet during a ramp operation is provided. The current lead assembly includes a vacuum chamber having a through hole to enable a first end of a current lead contact to remain outside the vacuum chamber and a second end of the current lead contact to penetrate within the vacuum chamber. A vacuum boundary wall is located between the vacuum chamber and the current lead contact. At least one superconducting magnet is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber and includes a magnet lead. A second end of the current lead contact is coupled to the magnet lead via an internal lead. A vacuum cap is removably disposed to sealingly encompass therein the first end of the current lead contact during a first state of operation. The first end of the current lead contact is arranged to contact a power supply during a second state of operation, wherein the contact occurs exterior the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A superconducting magnet apparatus includes a plurality of superconducting magnet coil sections connected in series and housed within a cryogenically cooled, vacuum container. A power source generates a current. A first lead is electrically connected to the superconducting magnet coil sections. A second lead is enclosed entirely within the vacuum container. The second lead has a first section and a second section, and the first section is electrically connected to the power source. The second section is electrically connected to the first lead, and rigidly connected to a linear displacement device enclosed entirely within the vacuum container. The linear displacement device linearly displaces the second section relative to the first section, so that the first section contacts the second section thereby electrically connecting the first and second sections, or by creating a gap between the first section and second section thereby electrically disconnecting the first section from the second section.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging device is described that includes multiple magnetic coils to generate a magnetic field. Additionally, the magnetic resonance imaging device may include one or more radial gaps within some or all of the magnetic coils (e.g., primary magnetic coils, bucking coils, and so forth) in which radial spacers may be located to help preserve the homogeneity of the magnetic isocenter of the primary magnetic coils during operation.

Abstract: A wind turbine power generating system and method includes a tower, a hub, a plurality of blades connected to the hub, and a rotor connected to the hub. A superconducting generator is coupled to the rotor and includes a plurality of superconductive coils. A nacelle is mounted atop the tower, with the superconducting generator housed within the nacelle. An automatic ramp-down system is configured with the superconducting coils and includes an automatically activated energy dump circuit for current withdrawn from the superconductive coils in a ramp-down process prior to a quench. The energy dump circuit includes one or more heat dissipating loads, wherein each of the heat dissipating loads is mounted in thermal communication with one of the tower or the nacelle that act a thermal heat sink for dispersing heat from the loads.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a superconducting generator having an armature and a superconducting field winding set. The armature includes at least one multiphase armature winding set having a plurality of armature windings. The superconducting field winding set is separated by a gap from the armature. The superconducting field winding set includes a plurality of field windings, wherein one of the armature winding set and superconducting field winding set is connectable to rotate with a rotating component of the wind turbine and another of the armature and the superconducting field winding set being non-rotating. The wind turbine also includes a controllable power converter coupled to the at least one multiphase armature winding set and a controller configured to control switching operations of the controllable power converter to effect a phase shift among the plurality of armature windings.

Abstract: An annular rotating armature is presented. The annular rotating armature includes an armature winding having a plurality of coils, an armature support structure and a magnetic shield disposed between the armature winding and the armature support structure. The magnetic shield having a first magnetic shield ring, a second magnetic shield ring disposed concentric to the first magnetic shield ring and coupled to the first magnetic shield ring via a magnetic shield bridge link. An air gap is formed between the first magnetic shield ring and the second magnetic shield ring. The magnetic shield bridge link is disposed within the air gap. A superconducting generator including the annular rotating armature and a wind turbine having such superconducting generator are also presented.

Abstract: An imaging device may include multiple magnetic coils to generate a magnetic field. Additionally, the imaging device may include an outer support affixed to at least one coil of the plurality of magnetic coils and an axial support between at least two coils of the plurality of magnetic coils, wherein the outer support and the axial support operatively share a load corresponding to the generated magnetic fields.

Abstract: An annular rotating armature is presented. The annular rotating armature includes an armature winding having a plurality of coils, an armature support structure and a magnetic shield disposed between the armature winding and the armature support structure. The magnetic shield having a first magnetic shield ring, a second magnetic shield ring disposed concentric to the first magnetic shield ring and coupled to the first magnetic shield ring via a magnetic shield bridge link. An air gap is formed between the first magnetic shield ring and the second magnetic shield ring. The magnetic shield bridge link is disposed within the air gap. A superconducting generator including the annular rotating armature and a wind turbine having such superconducting generator are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to using an integrated cooling circuit to provide both forced-flow pre-cooling functionality and closed-loop thermosiphon cooling for persistent mode operation of a superconducting magnet. In one embodiment, the integrated cooling circuit shares a single set of cooling tubes for use with both the forced-flow pre-cooling circuit as well as the closed-loop operating-state cooling circuit.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a superconducting lead assembly comprising: a positive superconducting wire; a negative superconducting wire, wherein the positive superconducting wire is configured to conduct inflow current to a cryogenic apparatus and wherein the negative superconducting wire is configured to conduct outflow current away from the cryogenic apparatus; and an electrically insulating separator, wherein the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire are arranged proximately one another and on opposite sides of the electrically insulating separator for cancellation of electromagnetic forces attributable to current flowing simultaneously in opposite directions within the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire, and wherein a length of the superconducting lead assembly is flexible. In one embodiment the positive superconducting wire and the negative superconducting wire can include high temperature superconducting (HTS) material.

Abstract: A quench protection system for a superconducting machine, such as a superconducting generator having a plurality of series-arranged superconducting coils, includes at least one switch heater electrically coupled to each of the superconducting coils. A quench protection switch is provided in series with the coils, wherein each switch heater is in thermal contact with the quench protection switch. A heater network is configured in parallel with the quench protection switch and is in thermal contact with each of the coils. A quench of any one of the coils triggers a quench of the quench protection switch, wherein the heater network then triggers a quench of all of the remaining coils.