Quench Simulations of a Non-Insulated Compact HTS Magnet for Deployment in Low-Earth Orbit

The “Hēki magnet mission” is a collaboration between the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute (Wellington, New Zealand) and Nanoracks (Houston, Texas, USA), aiming to deploy a high-temperature superconducting magnet aboard the International Space Station to demonstrate the operation of miniaturised cryocoolers, HTS magnets, and flux pumps in space. This paper focuses on the quench tolerance of non-insulated (NI) HTS magnets within the context of the Hēki mission. NI HTS coils can enhance quench resistance and tolerance because the absence of turn-to-turn insulation allows current sharing during quench events, improving thermal stability and reducing the risk of hot spots. Simulations under typical space conditions demonstrate that NI magnets can manage quench events without complex protection circuits, which is advantageous for the simplicity and reliability required in space applications. These findings support the feasibility of employing NI HTS technology in future spacecraft propulsion systems.