Towards an optimized coupling-loss induced quench protection system (CLIQ) for quadrupole magnets

The recently developed Coupling-Loss-Induced Quench (CLIQ) protection system is a new method for initiating a fast and voluminous transition to the normal state for protecting high energy density superconducting magnets. Its simple and robust electrical design, its lower failure rate, and its more efficient energy deposition mechanism make CLIQ often preferable to other conventional quench protection methods. The system is now implemented for the protection of a two meter long superconducting quadrupole model magnet and as such fully characterized in the CERN magnet test facility. Test results convincingly show that CLIQ allows for a more global quench initiation and thus a faster discharge of the magnet energy than conventional quench heaters. Nevertheless, the CLIQ performance is strongly affected by the length of the magnet to protect, hence an optimization is required for effective application to full-size magnets. A series of measures for the optimization of a quench protection system for a quadrupole magnet based on CLIQ is outlined here. The impact of various key parameters on CLIQ’s performance, the most efficient CLIQ configuration, and the advantage of installing multiple CLIQ units are assessed.