Utilization of large heat capacity substances for improving the stability of superconducting magnets

Several years ago at Kurchatov Institute the R&D program on the new type of superconducting magnets (SM) doped with large heat capacity substances (LHCS) in order to improve their stability was started. We began from an “external” doping by the LHCS powder mixed with epoxy resin using the wet-winding process. Later on at Bochvar Institute the methods to introduce LHCS inside superconducting wires (both NbTi and Nb3Sn based) were developed. The comparative tests of LHCS doped wires and model windings with LHCS have shown positive results regarding a considerable increase of critical energies, improving of thermomagnetic stability and training behavior. The state-of-the-art of these methods is reviewed and their perspectives are discussed.

► The R&D aimed to increasing of low temperature superconducting magnets stability is discussed.
► The described methods are based on increasing of average heat capacity of the winding.
► Small additives of large heat capacity substances (LHCS) led to multiple magnet stability growth.
► The different methods of LHCS introducing into the superconducting windings are reviewed.