Development of the Superconducting Outserts for the Series-Connected-Hybrid Program at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Abstract

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) has embarked on an innovative program to develop a number of Series-Connected-Hybrid magnetic systems. In this novel concept, a set of resistive coils (insert) and a set of superconducting cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) coils (outsert) are electrically driven in series, rather than independently as in previous hybrid systems. Presently NHMFL is working on 3 different projects. The first, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with an $11.7 million grant, is related to the construction of a cylindrical-bore Series-Connected Hybrid (SCH), for high field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), condensed matter physics, biology and chemistry, to be located at the Magnet Lab's Tallahassee location. The second, funded by the Hahn-Meitner Institute (HMI) in Berlin, relates to the engineering design for a horizontal bore Series-Connected Hybrid to be used in a neutron diffraction experimental system. Finally, the third, also funded by NSF, is a conceptual and engineering study for an SCH that would be used for neutron scattering experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), similar to the HMI version. Because of the main points in common between the 3 different systems, our final goal is to develop a superconducting magnetic system suitable for the 3 applications. We believe this is possible for the magnet although, due to the different field/bore orientations, some differences in the mechanical design of the cryostat and resistive inserts will exist. In this paper we will give an overview of the R&D strategy devised to develop these superconducting magnetic systems, together with a report on the present status of such program.