2G HTS Magnet With Smart Insulation Method

This paper proposes an advanced method to satisfy both the stability and charging/discharging time constant requirements of second generation high-temperature superconductor (2G HTS) magnets. This novel method entails installing metal–insulator transition (MIT) material between the turns of the 2G HTS magnets. The MIT material acts as an insulator when the temperature is lower than a certain value. Above this temperature, the MIT material becomes a conductor. This transition can be used as a switch between the turns of the 2G HTS magnets. We refer to this temperature-dependent smart switch as “smart insulation.” Considering the operating temperature, we selected V 2 O 3 as the material for smart insulation. We have experimentally verified that the advantages of both the insulation magnet (in the superconducting state) and no-insulation magnet (during quenching) can be simultaneously realized.