Superconducting electromagnets comprising coils bonded to a support structure

1. A superconducting electromagnet, comprising:

coils of superconducting wire bonded to a support structure comprising a number of support blocks positioned at circumferentially-spaced locations between adjacent coils; and

electrically resistive heating elements provided in thermal contact with the support blocks for heating the support blocks.

2. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the heating elements include closed loops of wire arranged to receive energy by electrical induction during a change in magnetic field strength produced by the electromagnet.

3. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the heating elements comprise electrical resistors mechanically mounted on the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

4. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the heating elements comprise coils of resistive wire mechanically mounted on or in the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

5. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 3 wherein the heating elements are connected to a quench protection circuit to thereby receive electrical energy in case of a quench of the electromagnet.

6. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 2 wherein the closed loops are arranged such that in case of a quench of the electromagnet a changing magnetic field of the electromagnet induces current in the closed loops thereby causing ohmic heating of the closed loops and so also of the support structure.

7. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the support structure is of an electrically non-conducting material.

8. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the support structure is of an electrically conducting material.

9. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 2 wherein the loops or coils of wire are each placed in a hole or cavity formed in the support structure, the hole or cavity being filled with a hardening material.

10. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein a source of electrical power is made available to heat the support structure during a cool-down phase of operation of the superconducting electromagnet.

11. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a support ring retaining one of the coils on a radially outer surface thereof, and at least one of the electrically resistive heating elements is arranged for heating the support ring.

12. A superconducting electromagnet, comprising:

coils of superconducting wire bonded to a support structure comprising a former having annular cavities into which the coils are wound; and

electrically resistive heating elements in thermal contact with the former for heating the former.

13. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the heating elements include closed loops of wire arranged to receive energy by electrical induction during a change in magnetic field strength produced by the electromagnet.

14. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the heating elements comprise electrical resistors mechanically mounted on the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

15. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the heating elements comprise coils of resistive wire mechanically mounted on or in the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

16. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 14 wherein the heating elements are connected to a quench protection circuit to thereby receive electrical energy in case of a quench of the electromagnet.

17. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 13 wherein the closed loops are arranged such that in case of a quench of the electromagnet a changing magnetic field of the electromagnet induces current in the closed loops thereby causing ohmic heating of the closed loops and so also of the support structure.

18. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the support structure is of an electrically non-conducting material.

19. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the support structure is of an electrically conducting material.

20. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 13 wherein the loops or coils of wire are each placed in a hole or cavity formed in the support structure, the hole or cavity being filled with a hardening material.

21. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein a source of electrical power is made available to heat the support structure during a cool-down phase of operation of the superconducting electromagnet.

22. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 12 wherein the support structure comprises a support ring retaining one of the coils on a radially outer surface thereof, and at least one of the electrically resistive heating elements is arranged for heating the support ring.

23. A superconducting electromagnet, comprising:

coils of superconducting wire bonded on their radially outer surface to a support structure of essentially cylindrical shape; and

heating elements in thermal contact with the essentially cylindrical support structure.

24. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the heating elements include closed loops of wire arranged to receive energy by electrical induction during a change in magnetic field strength produced by the electromagnet.

25. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the heating elements comprise electrical resistors mechanically mounted on the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

26. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the heating elements comprise coils of resistive wire mechanically mounted on or in the support structure and provided with electrical connections to thereby receive electrical energy when required to heat the support structure.

27. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 25 wherein the heating elements are connected to a quench protection circuit to thereby receive electrical energy in case of a quench of the electromagnet.

28. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 24 wherein the closed loops are arranged such that in case of a quench of the electromagnet a changing magnetic field of the electromagnet induces current in the closed loops thereby causing ohmic heating of the closed loops and so also of the support structure.

29. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the support structure is of an electrically non-conducting material.

30. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the support structure is of an electrically conducting material.

31. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 24 wherein the loops or coils of wire are each placed in a hole or cavity formed in the support structure, the hole or cavity being filled with a hardening material.

32. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein a source of electrical power is made available to heat the support structure during a cool-down phase of operation of the superconducting electromagnet.

33. The superconducting electromagnet according to claim 23 wherein the support structure comprises a support ring retaining one of the coils on a radially outer surface thereof, and at least one of the electrically resistive heating elements is arranged for heating the support ring.