Earticle

The Magnetic Force Control MFC technology is very useful because of its physical treatment process. Especially the Magnetic Separation MS technology is expected to contribute to SDGs 2030, Circular Economy and Carbon neutral 2050 realization. This paper describes the review of the IFMFC activity from 2010.The IFMFC is organized by three local committees of researchers in Japan, China and Korea. The IFMFC aims to exchange the information of the development results using the MFC technology and to educate the young researchers. The forum has been held in every year around three countries. In 2020 and 2021, the forum was organized by Zoom online due to the COVID-19. The 134 presentations were made up to 2020.The breakdown of these presentations are categorized to the environment remediation52%, material resource37% and fundamental research/technology11%. The Super Conducting Magnet SCM development promotes the MFC technologies. There are some impressive backgrounds as to the brilliant SM technology applications for many different magnetism ; SCM development, High Gradient Magnetic Separation HGMS, magnetic seeding method and magneto-Archimedes effect. This paper reviews the IFMFC activity according to those presented presentations.

We are conducting research and development of magnetic filters for magnetic separation targeting paramagnetic materials. In order to develop a new magnetic filter with a large magnetic gradient, stainless fiber (SUS430, 120 mm x 3 mm) with a triangular cross section was sintered with a high void ratio (~ 70%) and the magnetic filter (20 mm x 2 mm) was created. When this magnetic filter was used to perform magnetic separation of hematite (particle size 50 μm) under a maximum magnetic flux density of 1.49 T, high separation rates were obtained.

In recent years, the impact of microplastics (MPs) on ecosystems is a serious problem. Since MPs are difficult to recover once they are dispersed into the environment, it is important to remove them at the source. We proposed a magnetic separation of primary MPs (plastics manufactured in minute sizes) sized 10-100 μm that has not been removed in the sewage process, based on the magnetic seeding process. In this study, we used magnetite as a magnetic seeding agent, and conducted magnetic separation experiments in the continuous process using a superconducting solenoidal magnet to investigate the feasibility of practical magnetic separation system of MPs. As a result, 85% separation rate was obtained by continuous separation using high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) with hydrophobically treated magnetite as a magnetic seeding agent.

We have been developing a magnetic separation device that can be used in low magnetic fields for paramagnetic materials. Magnetic separation of paramagnetic particles with a small particle size is desired for volume reduction of contaminated soil in Fukushima or separation of iron scale from water supply system in power plants. However, the implementation of the system has been difficult due to the needed magnetic fields is high for paramagnetic materials. This is because there was a problem in installing such a magnet in the site. Therefore, we have developed a magnetic separation system that combines a selection tube and magnetic separation that can separate small sized paramagnetic particles in a low magnetic field. The selection tube is a technique for classifying the suspended particles by utilizing the phenomenon that the suspended particles come to rest when the gravity acting on the particles and the drag force are balanced when the suspension is flowed upward. In the balanced condition, they can be captured with even small magnetic forces. In this study, we calculated the particle size of paramagnetic particles trapped in a selection tube in a high gradient magnetic field. As a result, the combination of the selection tube and HGMS (High Gradient Magnetic Separation-system) can separate small sized paramagnetic particles under low magnetic field with high efficiency, and this paper shows its potential application.

One of the recent proposals with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a multi-bore NMR which consists of array of magnets which could present possibilities to quickly cope with pandemic virus by multiple inspection of virus samples. Low temperature superconductor (LTS) can be a candidate for mass production of the magnet due to its low price in fabrication as well as operation by applying the helium zero boil-off technology. However, training feature of LTS magnet still hinders the low cost operation due to multiple boil-offs during premature quenches. Thus in this paper, LTS magnet with low mechanical stress is designed targeting the “training-free” LTS magnet for mass production of magnet array for multi-bore NMR. A thorough process of an LTS magnet design is conducted, including the analyses as the followings: electromagnetics, mechanical stress, cryogenics, stability, and protection. The magnet specification was set to 4.7 T in a winding bore of 85 mm, corresponding to the MR frequency of 200 MHz. The stress level is tolerable with respect to the wire yield strength and epoxy crack where mechanical disturbance is less than the minimum quench energy.

Effects of electron beam (EB) irradiation on the mechanical strength of Cu (conducting sheath) and Nb (diffusion barrier) of Cu/Nb/MgB2 superconducting was investigated. Wire- and tape-type Cu/Nb/MgB2 samples were irradiated at E-beam energy of 2.5 MeV and 5 mA and a maximum E-beam dose was 5x1017 e/m2. The hardness value of Cu and Nb region was measured by the Vickers micro-hardness method. In the case of the wire sample, the hardness of Cu and Nb increased proportionally as the dose was increased up to 5x1017 e/m2, whereas in the case of the tape sample, the hardness increased up to a dose of 0.5x1017 e/m2, and decreased slightly 5x1017 e/m2. The hardness increase of Cu and Nb is believed to be due to the decrease of the deformability of Cu and Nb due to the defects formed inside the materials by E-beam irradiation.

To fabricate large grain YBCO bulk superconductors by melt process, Sm123 single crystal with a high melting point are mostly used as seeds. However, it also uses Y123 film deposited on MgO single crystal substrate. This study investigated the growth behavior of the Y123 grain during a melt process when single grain YBCO bulk was used as a seed. Single grain Y123 bulk was grown when the seed size was small. When the seed size was relatively large, multiple grains were grown but the grains were still large. Y123 seed crystal was completely decomposed during high temperature anneal at 1040℃ and new Y123 crystals were nucleated during a slow cooling stage below a peritectic temperature. Thereafter, newly formed Y123 crystals from the seed area are thought to grow into the Y1.8 powder compact. The crystallographic orientations of newly nucleated Y123 grains are independent of the crystallographic orientation of Y123 seed. It is thought that the crystallographic orientation of newly nucleated Y123 crystal can be controlled by using Y211-free Y123 single crystal as a seed of homo-seeding melt growth.

The superconducting properties of high temperature superconducting (HTS) GdBCO coated conductor (CC) tape (Ag/GdBCO/Buffer-layers/Stainless Steel) were investigated, specifically a series of samples prepared by vacuum heat treatment (200oC to 600oC), using a Quantum Design PPMS-14. The critical current density Jc value was obtained by applying the modified Bean model to the irreversible magnetization Mirr(H) data which was estimated from the magnetization M(H) loop. The reduction rates of lnJc and Tc values according to the increase of the vacuum annealing temperature Tan were d(lnJc)/dTan= - 0.016 A/(cm2∙oC) and dTc/dTan = - 0.24, respectively. We examined the effect of recovery temperature Tre (475oC to 700oC) and recovery duration time t (0.5 h to 24 h) on the restoration of previously completely lost superconductivity in samples that subsequently received heat treatment in an O2 gas flow space. All samples were fully restored to superconductivity by heat treatment in an O2 gas flow space. The recovery temperatures Tre (475oC to 700oC) and recovery duration times t (0.5 h to 24 h) were both independent of the superconductivity recovery characteristics.

With the innovative development of bio, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor technologies, it is essential to demand a nextgeneration transfer system that minimizes dust and vibrations generated during the manufacturing process. In order to develop dustfree and non-contact transfer systems, the high temperature superconductor (HTS) bulks have been applied as a magnet for levitation. However, sintered HTS bulk magnets are limited in their applications due to their relatively low critical current density (Jc) of several kA/cm2 and low mechanical properties as a ceramic material. In addition, during cooling to cryogenic temperatures repeatedly, cracks and damage may occur by thermal shock. On the other hand, the bulk magnets made by stacked HTS tapes have various advantages, such as relatively high mechanical properties by alternate stacking of the metal and ceramic layer, high magnetic levitation performance by using coated conductors with high Jc of several MA/cm2, consistent superconducting properties, miniaturization, light-weight, etc. In this study, we tried to fabricate HTS tapes stacked bulk magnets with 60 mm × 60 mm area and various numbers of HTS tape stacked layers for magnetic levitation. In order to examine the levitation forces of bulk magnets stacked with HTS tapes from 1 to 16 layers, specialized force measurement apparatus was made and adapted to measure the levitation force. By increasing the number of HTS tapes stacked layers, the levitation force of bulk magnet become larger. 16 HTS tapes stacked bulk magnets show promising levitation force of about 23.5 N, 6.538 kPa at 10 mm of levitated distance from NdFeB permanent magnet.

Single-grain (c-normal or c-parallel) and multi-grain YBCO superconductors were prepared by a melt growth process with/without seeding. The magnetic levitation force and trapped magnetic field at liquid N2 temperature (77 K) of the YBCO superconductors were investigated. Samples for the levitation force measurement were zero-field cooled (ZFC) to 77 K, and samples for trapped field measurement were field-cooled (FC) using Nd magnets. As for the magnetic levitation force, the c-normal, single grain sample showed the largest value, whereas the multi-grain sample showed the lowest value. The trapped magnetic field of the c-normal and c-parallel single-grain samples was 4-5 times that of the multi-grain sample. In addition, as the external magnetic field (the number of magnets) increased, the both properties increased proportionally. These results were explained in terms of the orientation dependence of the levitation forces and the magnetic field trapping capability of the YBCO superconductor.

One of the major applications of REBCO coated conductor (CC) tapes is in superconducting magnets or coils that are designed for high magnet fields. For such applications, the CC tapes were exposed to a high level of stresses which includes uniaxial tensile or transverse compressive stresses resulting from a large magnetic field. Thus, CC tapes should endure such mechanical load or deformation that can influence their electromechanical performance during manufacturing, cool-down, and operation. It has been reported that the main cause of critical current (Ic) degradation in CC tapes utilized in coil windings for superconducting magnets was the delamination due to transversely applied stresses. In most high-magnetic-field applications, the operating limits of the CC tapes will likely be imposed by the electromechanical properties together with its Ic dependence on temperature and magnetic field. In this study, we examined the influence of the transverse compressive stress on the Ic degradation behaviors in various commercially available CC tapes which is important for magnet design Four differently processed REBCO CC tapes were adopted to examine their Ic degradation behaviors under transverse compression using an anvil test method and a newly developed instantaneous Ic measurement system. As a result, all REBCO CC tapes adopted showed robustness against transverse compressive stresses for REBCO coils, notably at transverse compressive stresses until 250 MPa. When the applied stress further increased, different Ic degradation behaviors were observed depending on the sample. Among them, the one that was fabricated by the IBAD/MOCVD process showed the highest compressive stress tolerance.

Liquid hydrogen (LH2) has a higher density than gaseous hydrogen, so it has high transport efficiency and can be stored at relatively low pressure. In order to use efficient bulk hydrogen in the industry, research for the LH2 supply system is needed. In the high-pressure hydrogen station based on LH2 currently being developed in Korea, a heat exchanger is used to heat up supercritical hydrogen at 700 bar and 60 K, which is pressurized by a cryogenic high-pressure pump, to gas hydrogen at 700 bar and 300 K. Accordingly, the heat exchanger used in the hydrogen station should consider the design of high-pressure tubes, miniaturization, and freezing prevention. A helical heat exchanger generates secondary flow due to the curvature characteristics of a curved tube and can be miniaturized compared to a straight one on the same heat transfer length. This paper evaluates the heat transfer performance through parametric study on the distance between coils, guide effect, and anti-icing design of helical heat exchanger. The helical heat exchanger has better heat transfer performance than the straight tube exchanger due to the influence of the secondary flow. When the distance between the coils is uniform, the heat transfer is enhanced. The guide between coils increases the heat transfer performance by increasing the heat transfer length of the shell side fluid. The freezing is observed around the inlet of distribution tube wall, and to solve this problem, an anti-icing structure and a modified operating condition are suggested.

Thermoacoustic oscillations (TAOs) are spontaneous pressure oscillations frequently seen in hydrogen or helium cryogenic systems. Half-open tubes connected to cryogenic fluid with a closed room temperature end have a high potential for oscillation generation. Thermoacoustic oscillations will result in significant pressure fluctuations and additional heat load, endangering the security and stability of the cryogenic system. The goal of this paper is to investigate TAOs in superfluid helium using both theoretical and experimental methods. Five half-open tubes with varied typical inner diameters inserted into superfluid helium were installed in a test cryostat. The onset characteristics of thermoacoustic oscillations were presented and studied. The effect of temperature profile was discussed. Finally, a simple eliminating method was introduced.

Two β=0.10 cryomodules are required for the China Accelerator Driven Subcritical System (C-ADS) injector II accelerator. Flow design is of great importance in the performance of cryomodules, including thermal design, flow distribution, pressure drop and so on. This paper will study convection heat transfer of helium and relation among the pipe diameter, mass flow rate and Reynolds number. Furthermore, the influence of flow geometries on pressure drop and flow distribution will also be done. It was found that the theoretical flow distribution were in good agreement with the experimental data.