S.E. Bartlett

Correlation between strand stability and magnet performance

Magnet programs at BNL, LBNL and FNAL have observed instabilities in high J/sub c/ Nb/sub 3/Sn strands and magnets made from these strands. This paper correlates the strand stability determined from a short sample-strand test to the observed magnet performance. It has been observed that strands that carry high currents at high fields (greater than 10 T) cannot sustain these same currents at low fields (1-3 T) when the sample current is fixed and the magnetic field is ramped. This suggests that the present generation of strand is susceptible to flux jumps (FJ). To prevent flux jumps from limiting stand performance, one must accommodate the energy released during a flux jump. To better understand FJ this work has focused on wire with a given sub-element diameter and shows that one can significantly improve stability by increasing the copper conductivity (higher residual resistivity ratio, RRR, of the Cu). This increased stability significantly improves the conductor performance and permits it to carry more current.

Design of HD2: a 15 tesla Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole with a 35 mm bore

The Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole HD1, recently fabricated and tested at LBNL, pushes the limits of accelerator magnet technology into the 16 T field range, and opens the way to a new generation of HEP colliders. HD1 is based on a flat racetrack coil configuration and has a 10 mm bore. These features are consistent with the HD1 goals: exploring the Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor performance limits at the maximum fields and under high stress. However, in order to further develop the block-coil geometry for future high-field accelerators, the bore size has to be increased to 30-50 mm. With respect to HD1, the main R&D challenges are: (a) design of the coil ends, to allow a magnetically efficient cross-section without obstructing the beam path; (b) design of the bore, to support the coil against the pre-load force; (c) correction of the geometric field errors. HD2 represents a first step in addressing these issues, with a central dipole field above 15 T, a 35 mm bore, and nominal field harmonics within a fraction of one unit. This paper describes the HD2 magnet design concept and its main features, as well as further steps required to develop a cost-effective block-coil design for future high-field, accelerator-quality dipoles.

HD1: design and fabrication of a 16 Tesla Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole magnet

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Superconducting Magnet Group has completed the design, fabrication and test of HD1, a 16 T block-coil dipole magnet. State of the art Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor was wound in double-layer racetrack coils and supported by an iron yoke and a tensioned aluminum shell. In order to prevent conductor movement under magnetic forces up to the design field, a coil pre-stress of 150 MPa was required. To achieve this level without damaging the brittle conductor, the target stress was generated during cool-down to 4.2 K by exploiting the thermal contraction differentials between yoke and shell. Accurate control of the shell tension during assembly was obtained using pressurized bladders and interference load keys. An integrated 3D CAD model was used to optimize magnetic and mechanical design and analysis.

Development of a large aperture Nb/sub 3/Sn racetrack quadrupole magnet

The U.S. LHC Accelerator Research Program (LARP), a collaboration between BNL, FNAL, LBNL, and SLAC, has among its major objectives the development of advanced magnet technology for an LHC luminosity upgrade. The LBNL Superconducting Magnet Group supports this program with a broad effort involving design studies, Nb/sub 3/Sn conductor development, mechanical models, and basic prototypes. This paper describes the development of a large aperture Nb/sub 3/Sn racetrack quadrupole magnet using four racetrack coils from the LBNL Subscale Magnet (SM) Program. The magnet provides a gradient of 95 T/m in a 110 mm bore, with a peak field in the conductor of 11.2 T. The coils are pre-stressed by a mechanical structure based on a pre-tensioned aluminum shell, and axially supported with aluminum rods. The mechanical behavior has been monitored with strain gauges and the magnetic field has been measured. Results of the test are reported and analyzed.

Mechanical design of a second generation LHC IR quadrupole

One of the proposed options to increase the LHC luminosity is the replacement of the existing inner triplets at the interaction regions with new low-beta larger aperture quadrupoles operating at the same gradient. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is carrying out preliminary studies of a large-bore Nb/sub 3/Sn quadrupole. The mechanical design presents a support structure based on the use of keys and bladders without self-supporting collars. This technology has been proven effective in several successful common coil Nb/sub 3/Sn dipoles built at LBNL, and it is for the first time applied to a cos(2/spl thetav/) design. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the quadrupole mechanical behavior, demonstrating the possibility of delivering, through this method, well-controlled coil pre-compression during assembly, cool-down and excitation. The study has been performed with the finite element program ANSYS.

Mechanical Design of HD2, a 15 T

After the fabrication and test of HD1, a 16 T Nb3Sn dipole magnet based on flat racetrack coil configuration, the Superconducting Magnet Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is developing the Nb3Sn dipole HD2. With a dipole field above 15 T, a 35 mm clear bore, and nominal field harmonics within a fraction of one unit, HD2 represents a further step towards the application of block-type coils to high-field accelerator magnets. The design features tilted racetrack-type ends, to avoid obstructing the beam path, and a 4 mm thick stainless steel tube, to support the coil during the pre-loading operation. The mechanical structure, similar to the one used for HD1, is based on an external aluminum shell pre-tensioned with pressurized bladders. Axial rods and stainless steel plates provide longitudinal support to the coil ends during magnet excitation. A 3D finite element analysis has been performed to evaluate stresses and deformations from assembly to excitation, with particular emphasis on conductor displacements due to Lorentz forces. Numerical results are presented and discussed

hboxNb_3hboxSn

Building accelerator quality magnets using Nb/sub 3/Sn for next generation facilities is the challenge of the next decade. The Superconducting Magnet Group at LBNL has developed an innovative support structure for high field magnets. The structure is based on an aluminum shell over iron yokes using hydraulic bladders and locking keys for applying the pre-stress. At cool down the pre-stress is almost doubled due to the differences of thermal contraction. This new structure allows precise control of the pre-stress with minimal spring back and conductor over-stress. At present the support structure has been used with prototype magnets up to one meter in length. In this paper, the design of a 4-meter long, 11 Tesla, wind-and-react racetrack dipole will be presented as a possible step toward the fabrication of long Nb/sub 3/Sn accelerator magnets.

Dipole Magnet with a 35 mm Bore

The Superconducting Magnet Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has recently fabricated and tested HD1, a Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole magnet. The magnet reached a 16 T field, and exhibited training quenches in the end regions and in the straight section. After the test, HD1 was disassembled and inspected, and a detailed 3D finite element mechanical analysis was done to investigate for possible quench triggers. The study led to minor modifications to mechanical structure and assembly procedure, which were verified in a second test (HD1b). This paper presents the results of the mechanical analysis, including strain gauge measurements and coil visual inspection. The adjustments implemented in the magnet structure are reported and their effect on magnet training discussed.

An R&D approach to the development of long Nb/sub 3/Sn accelerator magnets using the key and bladder technology

The Superconducting Magnet Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has recently fabricated and tested HD1, a Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole magnet. The magnet reached a 16 T field, and exhibited training quenches in the end regions and in the straight section. After the test, HD1 was disassembled and inspected, and a detailed 3D finite element mechanical analysis was done to investigate for possible quench triggers. The study led to minor modifications to mechanical structure and assembly procedure, which were verified in a second test (HD1b). This paper presents the results of the mechanical analysis, including strain gauge measurements and coil visual inspection. The adjustments implemented in the magnet structure are reported and their effect on magnet training discussed.

Mechanical analysis of the Nb3Sn dipole magnet HD1

The Superconducting Magnet Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has recently fabricated and tested HD1, a Nb/sub 3/Sn dipole magnet. The magnet reached a 16 T field, and exhibited training quenches in the end regions and in the straight section. After the test, HD1 was disassembled and inspected, and a detailed 3D finite element mechanical analysis was done to investigate for possible quench triggers. The study led to minor modifications to mechanical structure and assembly procedure, which were verified in a second test (HD1b). This paper presents the results of the mechanical analysis, including strain gauge measurements and coil visual inspection. The adjustments implemented in the magnet structure are reported and their effect on magnet training discussed.