Mechanical and Thermal Analysis of an HTS Superconducting Magnet for an Achromatic Gantry for Proton Therapy

Abstract

The mechanical and thermal analysis of the superconducting magnets, forming an innovative fixed-field bending section for use in a proton therapy gantry, is presented here. The design concept has a large momentum acceptance, covering the full proton energy range of 70 to 220 MeV with fixed field in the superconducting magnets, and uses a simple magnet geometry based on double-pancake high temperature superconductor coils. The main planned steps for the assembly and fabrication of the magnets are discussed. The mechanical analyses of the magnet, with emphasis on the stress state of the conductor during the powering of the magnet, is here described. The thermal analysis investigating the adequacy of the copper structure surrounding the conductor to extract the heat deposited in the conductor during powering is also discussed in detail.