Annual Report 2010 (4.1 MB) - Danish Technological Institute

Cases > Danfysik A/S
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87
Case
49
Goodbye to energy
guzzlers in particle
accelerators
Together with four other
partners in the Green Magnets
project, Danfysik A/S aims at
addressing the biggest energyguzzling
elements in particle
accelerators and reducing their
energy consumption by 75%.
The accelerators are used for
R&D, computer chip production,
environmental certification and
modern cancer treatment.
All accelerators propel nuclear particles
to high energy and speed, so
major consumers of electric energy
often make it into the 10-megawatt
class or higher. Some of the most
energy-intensive components of
the accelerators are the extremely
heavy magnetic systems that are
used for directing and controlling
the particle beams and are based
on classic electromagnetism. A
typical accelerator with a life of 10-
20 years consumes energy running
into hundreds of gigawatt hours.
The energy costs of simply driving
these magnets are five to ten times
higher than the actual investment,
a fact that impacts on the environment.
New type of magnet in the
pipeline
With the Green Magnets project,
Danfysik A/S, in cooperation with
Sintex A/S, Aarhus University,
Aalborg University and the Aarhus
School of Engineering and the
support of the Danish National
Advanced Technology Foundation,
has decided to develop a new type
of magnet that consumes only one
fourth of the energy that conventional
magnet types do.
- The idea is based on utilising
the latest permanent magnetic
materials either alone or in hybrid
magnets, where they are used in
combination with an electromagnetic
part. This also requires special
high-efficiency power supplies.
In addition to the task of developing
the optimum magnetic design,
the greatest technological challenge
will be to ensure the stability
of the magnet when it’s exposed to
radiation and thermal impact, says
Danfysik A/S Managing Director
Bjarne Roger Nielsen. He adds that
the technology will be marketed
as soon as possible and that the
first customers are already set to
use it, and a couple of customers
are having it demonstrated in their
own systems and thus in a realistic
environment.
The new research accelerator
known as European Spallation
Source ESS AB is to be built in
Lund, Sweden, with Denmark and
Sweden as main sponsors. The
ambition is to make it the first
environmentally neutral accelerator
facility. With this project, Danfysik
A/S sees a great opportunity to set
new standards in the market for
accelerators and thus enhance its
position in the global competition.