A system for activating trapped field magnets in a superconducting material is disclosed. The system includes a superconducting material element and an electromagnet source disposed proximate the superconducting material element. The electromagnet source is configured to produce a magnetic field pulse sufficient to activate the superconducting material element. Furthermore, substantially all of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field pulse is contained within an area that has smaller physical lateral dimensions than the superconducting material element.

A superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) device having a plurality of interwoven windings provides for alternative discharge paths for energy stored as magnetic fields in the windings in response to an open-circuit winding fault in one of the windings.

An improved magnetic-levitation-based low-gravity simulator (MLS) is provided. The MLS comprises one or more gradient-field Maxwell coils that are provided within a superconducting magnet. When a current is provided to the one or more Maxwell coils and the superconducting magnet, a simulated low-gravity region is produced within the MLS. An object may be provided within this low-gravity region and may levitate within the region. The MLS may be used to test the impacts of low-gravity environments (for example, extraterrestrial environments) on different types of objects. Compared to an existing solenoid MLS, the improved MLS described herein includes a much larger volume low-gravity region at a lower energy expenditure.

A superconducting bulk magnet comprising a plurality of superconducting bulk materials combined, in which breakage of superconducting bulk materials is prevented and a strong magnetic field can be generated, that is, a superconducting bulk magnet comprising a plurality of superconducting bulk materials, each comprising a single-crystal formed RE.sub.1Ba.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.y (RE is one or more elements selected from Y or rare earth elements, where 6.8≦y≦7.1) in which RE.sub.2BaCuO.sub.5 is dispersed and each provided with a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces, combined together, in which superconducting bulk magnet, bulk material units, each comprising a superconducting bulk material and a bulk material reinforcing member arranged so as to cover a side surface of the same, are arranged facing the same direction and contacting each other to form an assembly, a side surface of the assembly is covered by an assembly side surface reinforcing member, a top surface and bottom surface of the assembly are respectively covered by an assembly top reinforcing member and an assembly bottom reinforcing member, and the assembly side surface reinforcing member, the assembly top reinforcing member, and the assembly bottom reinforcing member are joined into an integral unit, is provided.

A superconducting bulk magnet comprising a plurality of superconducting bulk materials combined, in which breakage of superconducting bulk materials is prevented and a strong magnetic field can be generated, that is, a superconducting bulk magnet comprising a plurality of superconducting bulk materials, each comprising a single-crystal formed RE.sub.1Ba.sub.2Cu.sub.3O.sub.y (RE is one or more elements selected from Y or rare earth elements, where 6.8≦y≦7.1) in which RE.sub.2BaCuO.sub.5 is dispersed and each provided with a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces, combined together, in which superconducting bulk magnet, bulk material units, each comprising a superconducting bulk material and a bulk material reinforcing member arranged so as to cover a side surface of the same, are arranged facing the same direction and contacting each other to form an assembly, a side surface of the assembly is covered by an assembly side surface reinforcing member, a top surface and bottom surface of the assembly are respectively covered by an assembly top reinforcing member and an assembly bottom reinforcing member, and the assembly side surface reinforcing member, the assembly top reinforcing member, and the assembly bottom reinforcing member are joined into an integral unit, is provided.

A radial-gap type superconducting synchronous machine 1 is prepared which includes a rotor 20 having, on its peripheral side, a convex magnetic pole 21 which includes, at its distal end part, bulk superconductors 30. When viewed in the direction of the rotational axis C1 of the rotor 20, the magnetic pole center side of the bulk superconductors 30 is disposed nearer to a stator 10 than the magnetic pole end side of the bulk superconductors 30. A ferromagnet 28 is disposed on the rotational axis C1 side of the bulk superconductors 30. A magnetizing apparatus 100 is disposed outside the bulk superconductors 30 in the radial direction of the rotor 20. Magnetization of the bulk superconductors 30 is performed by directing magnetic flux lines from the magnetizing apparatus 100 toward the bulk superconductors 30.

A radial-gap type superconducting synchronous machine 1 is prepared which includes a rotor 20 having, on its peripheral side, a convex magnetic pole 21 which includes, at its distal end part, bulk superconductors 30. When viewed in the direction of the rotational axis C1 of the rotor 20, the magnetic pole center side of the bulk superconductors 30 is disposed nearer to a stator 10 than the magnetic pole end side of the bulk superconductors 30. A ferromagnet 28 is disposed on the rotational axis C1 side of the bulk superconductors 30. A magnetizing apparatus 100 is disposed outside the bulk superconductors 30 in the radial direction of the rotor 20. Magnetization of the bulk superconductors 30 is performed by directing magnetic flux lines from the magnetizing apparatus 100 toward the bulk superconductors 30.

A superconducting magnet includes a superconducting coil, a refrigerant container, a radiation shield, a vacuum container, a refrigerating machine cooling an interior of the refrigerant container, a tubular current lead passing from outside of the vacuum container to inside of the refrigerant container electrically connected to the superconducting coil, a power source electrically connected to the current lead, a manometer measuring a pressure inside of the refrigerant container, a thermometer to measure a temperature of the current lead, and a control unit connected to each of the power source, the manometer, and the thermometer. The control unit raises an output of the power source to vary a value of a current flowing into superconducting coil only when a measurement value of the manometer is higher than or equal to a set value and a measurement value of the thermometer is lower than or equal to a set value.

A superconducting magnet includes a superconducting coil, a refrigerant container, a radiation shield, a vacuum container, a refrigerating machine cooling an interior of the refrigerant container, a tubular current lead passing from outside of the vacuum container to inside of the refrigerant container electrically connected to the superconducting coil, a power source electrically connected to the current lead, a manometer measuring a pressure inside of the refrigerant container, a thermometer to measure a temperature of the current lead, and a control unit connected to each of the power source, the manometer, and the thermometer. The control unit raises an output of the power source to vary a value of a current flowing into superconducting coil only when a measurement value of the manometer is higher than or equal to a set value and a measurement value of the thermometer is lower than or equal to a set value.

The present invention is a superconducting partial insulation magnet and a method for providing the same. The magnet includes a coil with a non-insulated superconducting wire winding wound around a bobbin. The coil has a first wire layer, a second wire layer substantially surrounding the first layer, and a first layer of insulating material disposed between the first wire layer and the second wire layer. Each wire layer comprises a plurality of turns, and the first layer of insulating material substantially insulates the second wire layer from the first wire layer.