Demonstration of fiber optic quench detection capability on the VIPER HTS cable design

Second Speaker: Erica Salazar

PSFC

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

4:30pm

Virtual

PSFC Student Seminars

Fiber-optic thermometry has the ability to provide rapid and reliable quench detection necessary for newly emerging large-scale, high-field superconducting magnets based on high-temperature-superconductor (HTS) cables.  Alternative quench detection schemes, such as novel fiber Bragg grating technology, are particularly important for applications, like magnetic-confinement fusion reactors, whose high degree of induced electromagnetic noise impose significant challenge to voltage-based quench detection. To evaluate quench detection capability under realistic magnet operating conditions, two fiber optic quench detection techniques – fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and ultra-long fiber Bragg grating (ULFBG) – were incorporated into two VIPER high current HTS cables and tested in the SULTAN facility. In addition, voltage taps and Cernox temperature sensors were also installed to measure the quench dynamics and validate the fiber measurements. The results of fiber optic quench detection during quench testing of VIPER at the SULTAN facility will be discussed