CORC <sup> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>®</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:math> </sup> cable terminations with integrated Hall arrays for quench detection
Reed Teyber, M. Marchevsky, S. Prestemon, Jeremy Weiss, D C van der Laan
Abstract
Abstract ReBCO superconducting cables have the potential to enable compact thermonuclear fusion reactors that operate at magnetic fields exceeding 20 T and allow operation at temperatures far exceeding the boiling point of liquid helium, potentially allowing for demountable magnets. Normal zone detection remains a challenge, and while novel quench detection techniques are an active area of research, few are non-invasive, provide real-time quench detection, and have been demonstrated with current ramp rates relevant for fusion reactors. To address this problem, a CORC <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>®</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:math> cable termination is developed with integrated Hall sensors to monitor current redistribution as a proxy for quench detection. The methodology exploits the current sharing and layered topology in CORC <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>®</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:math> cables, and allows quench detection using a localized sensor instead of co-wound voltage wires or optical fibers. Experiments are presented where current redistribution is measured from induced quenches, and in a 0.2 meter CORC <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mi>®</mml:mi> </mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:math> sample it is found that the Hall sensors detect normal zone transitions with a similar magnitude and temporal resolution as voltage measurements. To emulate the conditions of dynamic poloidal and central solenoidal fields, experiments are repeated with ramp rates up to 10 kA s −1 that demonstrate the potential to detect normal zone development over a range of experimental parameters.