New advancements in high field superconducting magnet and cryogenic technologies and applications

Ziad Melhem

Oxford Instruments

Friday, February 16, 2018

2:00pm

NW17-218

PSFC Seminars

Abstract: Recent advancements in developments of superconducting materials and technologies together with cryogenics are enabling a new class of compact high field magnets. The production of high magnetic fields using low temperature superconductors (LTS) has become common place. However, the large magnet sizes and their associated high cooling costs have often precluded the full utilisation of these research capabilities. Recent advances in low temperature superconductors (LTS) and high temperature superconductors (HTS) and Cryofree^® technology have opened up a new era in superconducting magnet development for a variety of applications including condensed matter research, materials research, nanotechnology and many other applications.

Beyond conventional wet magnet technology, there is a growing trend to utilise Cryofree^® technology. Cryofree^® magnets do not require liquid Helium baths and, with the addition of active shielding, both the experimental sample access and siting availability is improved.

Ultra-compact, laboratory sized magnets producing fields up to 22 Tesla are available. This new class of high field magnet is small in size and is suitable for general laboratory installation. The new class of LTS magnets designed to accommodate HTS inserts is enabling higher magnetic field > 25 Tesla.

The enabling technologies required to realise the above practical applications for high field, compact superconducting magnet systems are described together with new trends in using these advancements  in other applications.

 

Bio: Dr Ziad Melhem, is the Alliances Manager at Oxford Instruments NanoScience (OINS), managing OINS collaborative R&D, business developments, strategic projects and consultancy projects, with over 28 years’ experience in applied superconductivity, Low and High temperature superconducting (LTS & HTS) materials, and cryogenic and nanotechnology applications for scientific, medical and industrial sectors. Ziad has successfully led the development of the world’s first 22.5T research magnet using LTS and HTS superconducting materials at 4.2 Kelvin. Recently, Ziad programme managed the successful completion of the first generation of high field wide bore superconducting magnets. Current responsibilities include managing OINS collaborative projects on quantum and nanotechnology product development.  

Ziad is active at national and international level and is an industrial supervisor for Physics and Engineering students. Ziad is the editor of specialist books published by Woodehead – Elsevier on High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) applications for Energy Applications (2012) and on Electricity transmission, distribution and storage systems (2013) and authored a special report on superconducting materials and applications published by the UK Materials Network and launched at the House of Lords, London, UK in June 2011. Ziad is a member of the Institute of Physics (IOP) Superconductivity committee and Secretary of the British Cryogenic Council (BCC) and Chairman of Industrial Steering Committee - CDT in Energy Storage and its Applications at Southampton University, member of International Organising Committee of the Magnet Technology (MT25) conference. Ziad Chaired the Innovation Partner Scheme (IPS) Panel of the (STFC) (Aug2011 Aug-2014) and Chaired the IOP Superconductivity Summer School at Oxford (2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016).