Numerical analysis of Peltier current lead [superconducting magnet system]

Peltier current leads (PCL) are numerically analyzed. We solve a one-dimensional heat conduction equation to study the thermal behavior of a variety of PCLs under various cooling conditions. The PCLs consist of a thermoelectric element inserted into a copper lead at its room temperature end, with or without a high-T/sub c/ superconductor below 77 K. Thermoelectric elements of both p- and n-types, and pure copper are utilized as constituent parts of the PCLs. Each part of the PCL is cooled with either a helium or nitrogen gas under the self-cooling condition. Due to the Peltier effect, the PCLs are expected to exhibit less heat leak at the low temperature end than conventional current leads. Our calculations confirm that the PCLs show as much as 30% reductions of the heat leak when they are optimized. Temperature profiles and other physical quantities of interest are also computed.