QUENCHING CHARACTERISTICS OF AC SUPERCONDUCTING COILS

Quenching characteristics of two superconducting coils for a.c. use are investigated at different frequencies. One is impregnated with epoxy resin and the other is not. Both coils have experienced over 40 quenches in a.c. and d.c. The impregnated coil shows steady quenching currents for a.c. and the values are nearly the same as for d.c. On the other hand, quenching currents for a.c. in the non-impregnated coil are almost 80% of the trained-up d.c. quenching current and are scattered. Furthermore, the relationship between quenching currents and the estimated a.c. losses of the superconducting cable at the highest magnetic field point is investigated. According to the results of this investigation, the cause of quench in the impregnated coil is assumed to be the temperature rise of the winding due to a.c. losses, while the cause in the non-impregnated coil might be wire motion.