INVESTIGATION OF THE TRANSIENT-BEHAVIOR OF A SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETICENERGY-STORAGE (SMES) GENERATING HIGH-POWER PULSES

A method for calculating transient voltages in superconducting magnets has been developed. The prediction of overvoltages is an essential re quirement in avoiding insulation damages in expensive high-power magne ts. A single coil of a modular built Superconducting Magnet Energy Sto rage (SMES) was modelled as a strongly coupled R-L-C network with 8556 mutual inductances. The calculated transient behaviour of the model c orresponds well to the measured unit function response of the investig ated coil. The coil was designed with respect to the fast repetitive r amping of the SMES. Resonant oscillations are well damped by the mixed matrix Cu/CuNi/NbTi wire used. Due to the high safety margin of the i nsulation the maximum overvoltages could nor endanger the winding. A c omparison of the results with those of large superconducting fusion co ils lends to the recommendation that during the design stage of larger sized SMES a numerical investigation of the resonance behaviour of th e system should be performed.