Abstract: An apparatus (200) includes a cryostat (202) containing a volume of myogenic fluid. One or more electrically superconducting coils (204) is disposed within the cryostat. The one or more electrically superconducting coils is configured to produce a magnetic field when an electrical current is passed therethrough. One or more high temperature superconducting (HTS) current leads (206) is permanently disposed within the cryostat and coupled to the one or more electrically superconducting coils. One or more sensors (222) is positioned at or near the one or more HTS current leads to monitor the status of the HTS current leads. An HTS protection switch (208) is selectively coupled to the one or more HTS current leads. A magnet controller (220) controls the HTS protection switch to divert current from the one or more HTS current leads upon detection via the sensors of a quench of the one or more HTS current leads.

Abstract: An MRI system is provided with a refrigeration system that includes dual compressors that are coupled to a single coldhead that cools the liquid helium in the MRI system. Because the single coldhead receives the compressed refrigerant regardless of the compressor that is being used, the unacceptable cooling loss that would have occurred with redundant coldheads is avoided. By coupling two compressors to a single coldhead, continuous operation can be provided despite a failure of either compressor. The dual refrigeration system may comprise a water-cooled compressor and an air-cooled compressor to enhance MRI system reliability in the event of a failure of the primary compressor or the cooling water circulation system. Alternatively, two water-cooled compressors may be provided, each with its own independent water system. Check valves may be used to enable passive control of the refrigerant gas flow from either compressor to the coldhead, thereby further improving the reliability.

Abstract: An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) shipping container 10 includes a cryogenic refrigeration system 14 for cryogenically cooling superconducting magnet(s) 12A, 12B during transit. The cryogenic refrigeration system 14 monitors the temperature and/or pressure of the superconducting magnet(s) and circulates a refrigerant to the superconducting magnet(s) to maintain cryogenic temperatures in superconducting coils. A power supply 16, provided by a transportation vehicle, connects to the cryogenic refrigeration system via a power inlet 20 which is accessible from the exterior of the shipping container. The superconducting magnet(s) are suspended within the shipping container which is then loaded onto the transportation vehicle. The external power supply is connected to the cryogenic refrigeration system such that refrigerant is circulated to a cold head 22A, 22B of each superconducting magnet.

Abstract: A system for processing Aeromagnetic survey data to determine depth to basement rock is disclosed. The system uses Neural Networks having an input layer of elements, a hidden layer of elements and an output layer of elements which are interconnected by a weighted system of interconnections. A training session using known input and output data is used to train the Neural Network by adjusting the weighting functions repetitively to minimize any error in the output of the Neural Network.