Introducing a breakthrough in high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. Our new Ultra Compact Insulation (UCI) enables generation of the highest magnetic fields, faster than ever before.
Head of Magnets R&D, Greg Brittles, unveiled TE Magnetics’ latest innovation at the MT29 Magnet Technology Conference in Boston.
Traditionally, engineers faced a trade-off: fast-ramping magnets required insulation that compromised current density, thermal stability, and mechanical strength. UCI changes that.
With its ultra-thin insulation and unique mechanical design, UCI removes the need for bulky insulating materials, enabling compact, robust, high-performance magnets that ramp quickly.
Why does this matter?
By supporting higher current densities, UCI reduces the amount of superconducting tape needed to reach a given field strength, which improves cost-efficiency. It enables capabilities once thought incompatible – high magnetic fields, compact footprints, and precise, rapid field control – unlocking new possibilities across a wide range of applications, from motors and generators to particle accelerators, analytical instruments, advanced manufacturing and propulsion.
TE Magnetics is working with key partners to develop and deploy this transformative technology.
The testing
Using advanced HTS tape supplied by SuperPower Inc. a subsidiary of Tokamak Energy strategic investor Furukawa Electric Group, our six-coil test magnet was cooled to 20 Kelvin and ramped to a peak field of 15 Tesla at over 5 Tesla per minute – more than five times the LTS industry standard. It was ramped to field over 100 times, including being deliberately ramped into quench from peak field, with no degradation.
The compressive force in the core exceeded 30 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of eight Indian elephants – all within a magnet just 10cm in outer diameter and 4cm in inner diameter.
Greg Brittles said: “This is a story of technical development and teamwork. We’ve developed the most compact, fast-ramping, high-field coil technology to date, combining the compactness and mechanical robustness of no-insulation coils, the quench protection and low voltage benefits of partial insulation, and the fast ramping and current-field linearity of fully insulated coils – all in one balanced package. It’s a testament to our commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation.”
Kathleen Amm, Director of the U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, commented on the test results: “I am very excited about the recent results from Tokamak Energy and the impact that they can have on the future of high magnetic field science.”