Predicting the failure of pulsed magnets

Area of Science:

• High magnetic field technology
• Electrical insulation diagnostics
• Pulsed power systems

Background:

• Pulsed magnetic field facilities operate under extreme conditions, leading to frequent magnet failures.
• Insulation failure is a common precursor to mechanical failure and can cause violent explosions.
• Effective insulation monitoring is critical for the safety and reliability of pulsed high magnetic field systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenge of detecting weak partial discharge (PD) signals obscured by strong background noise in pulsed magnets.
• To present a novel differential PD pick-up coil scheme for improved insulation monitoring.
• To analyze the characteristics and mechanisms of PD signals using experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of a differential PD pick-up coil system.
• Experimental investigation of partial discharge signal detection in pulsed magnetic field environments.
• Analysis of signal characteristics and underlying mechanisms based on experimental results.

Main Results:

• The proposed differential PD pick-up coil scheme demonstrates effectiveness in separating weak PD signals from strong dB/dt background noise.
• Experimental data provides insights into the characteristics and mechanisms of partial discharge signals under pulsed conditions.
• The method facilitates more reliable detection of insulation degradation in pulsed magnets.

Conclusions:

• The differential PD pick-up coil is a viable and improved tool for monitoring insulation health in pulsed magnets.
• This technique enhances the safety and operational integrity of pulsed high magnetic field facilities.
• Further research can build upon this method for advanced diagnostics in demanding electromagnetic environments.