An FPGA-Based Quench Detection and Continuous Logging System for Testing Superconducting Magnets

A quench detection system for testing superconducting magnets with two concurrent data logging modes was developed at Fermilab. This system consists of two functional components: An active quench detection component, which is based on a reconfigurable input/output module with a field-programmable gate array, and a data logger component based on a set of simultaneous sampling data logger modules. The data logger component has two concurrent modes of operation: A fast logger mode that is triggered to capture a user specified window of data at rates up to 10 kHz, and a continuous data logger mode that can log data at rates between 0.1 and 100 Hz continuously using the same data loggers. The system was designed with a modular structure using commercially available hardware along with in-house developed programmable isolation amplifiers. This approach makes the new system easily scalable for multiple magnets or magnets with more complex coil and lead voltage tap configurations. The new system has been used for testing the MICE Spectrometer Solenoid. A detailed description of the system along with test results is presented in this paper.