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Flightweight Electro-Magnet SystemsNASA has a need for lightweight high performance magnets to be used in propulsion systems involving plasmas. We report the design, construction, and testing of a six inch diameter by twelve inch long solenoid using high purity aluminum wire operating at a temperature of 77 Kelvin (K) for the current carrying element. High purity aluminum is the material of choice because of three properties that make it optimal for magnetic construction. At 77 K high purity aluminum has one of the lowest resistivities at 77 K of any metal (p = 0.254 muOMEGA-cm), thus reducing the power requirements for creating magnetic fields. Aluminum is a low-density (2.6989 g/cc) material and the end product magnet will be of low total mass compared to similar designs involving copper or other elements. The magneto-resistance of aluminum saturates at low magnetic fields and does not increase indefinitely as is the case in copper. The magnet consists of four layers of closely wound wire and is approximately 150 mm in diameter by 300 mm long. A cylinder made from G - 10 was machined with a spiral groove to hold the high purity Al wire and the wire wound on it. Following the winding, each layer was potted in STYCAST high thermal conductivity epoxy to provide insulation between the turns of the coil and mechanical strength. The magneto-resistance of the coil has been measured at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), Tallahassee, FL in externally applied fields to 10 tesla. Following these tests it was energized to the full 2 tesla field it can produce using the facilities of the NHMFL at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The results of all of these tests will be presented.
Document ID
20010073721
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Goodrich, Roy G.
(Louisiana State Univ. Baton Rouge, LA United States)
Litchford, Ron
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Robertson, Tony
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Schmidt, Dianne
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Rodgers, Stephen L.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 16, 2001
Subject Category
Electronics And Electrical Engineering
Meeting Information
Meeting: 27th International Electric Propulsion Conference
Location: Pasadena, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: October 1, 2001
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG8-1731
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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