Optimal design of the superconducting persistent current switch with respect to the heater currents and the operating currents

The temperature characteristics of the persistent current switch (PCS) for superconducting magnet systems were analyzed by using the heat transfer equations. The optimal conditions for the design of the PCS were derived in this paper. The maximum operating current in a persistent mode was 100 A (at 1.5 T). The PCS was opened after several tens msec by heater currents. The heater current which could minimize thermal losses was 150 mA. The experimental results of the designed PCS agreed well with the calculated results.>