Effect of thermal contact resistance on heat generation in conduction-cooled binary current lead

This paper presents a study on the effect of thermal contact resistance (TCR) on heat generation in conduction-cooled binary current leads used in superconducting magnet systems. The conduction-cooled superconducting magnet system is composed of various components, including the superconducting coil, cryocooler, thermal link, and vacuum vessel. To generate high magnetic fields, the superconducting magnet is energised by current supplied from a power source at room temperature. However, the main heat load in the system is generated during the charging process, making it crucial to optimise the design of the current leads. The paper focuses on several key aspects of optimising current leads, including the shape of the metal lead, the thermo-electrical properties, and TCR of materials which cause the joint heat generation based on material type. By optimising the current lead design, the heat load during the charging process can be minimised, improving the magnet's performance.