Intelligent design of large-size HTS magnets for SMES and high-field applications: using a self-programmed GUI tool

Abstract

Different from many superconducting magnet designs based on the analytical algorithm and finite element method (FEM), this article presents an intelligent design of the SMES and high-field magnet using the self-programmed graphical user interface (GUI). As the important basis, the analytical solutions of SMES magnet are developed for calculating the magnetic field, inductance and critical current, whose accuracies are also verified by the experiment. Then, the analytical solutions are merged into the GUI tool with multi-window interface based on the MATLAB. The new platform is built to offer scientists and engineers a smart tool to design and optimize SMES magnets to reach the maximum energy capacity. After the structural optimization of a MJ-class SMES magnet, the critical current and energy capacity improve by 20.46% and 38.67%, respectively. Compared to previous superconducting magnet designs, this new platform for the SMES and high-field magnet design has the advantages of diverse HTS tape/magnet structure selections, user-friendly interface, automatic optimization, and fast speed.