Stability and Quench Protection for HTS Superconducting Magnets

The Air Force is currently pursuing the development of high temperature superconducting generators. Coated YBCO superconductor tape is a strong candidate to enable this application for rotor coils. There is the concern that it might be difficult to detect if a quench is occurring in a YBCO coated conductor coil and thus take action to protect the coil for being destroyed. During the Phase I we characterized the YBCO coated conductor tape with regard to current density, AC losses, and stability in coil and the conduction of heat transfer through various insulations. In this Phase II proposal we are working to improve the stability of YBCO coils through the use of innovative insulation approaches, develop methods to detect potential quenches and methods to protect the coils if a quench starts to occur.