Peter
T. While1, Michael Poole2, Larry K. Forbes1,
Stuart Crozier2
1School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; 2School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
The problem of gradient heating is addressed using a method reported elsewhere for designing gradient coils with minimum maximum temperature. The behaviour of four prototype coils is analyzed through experiment and compared to a minimum power coil and another coil designed with minimum maximum current density. Each minimaxT coil is designed to perform optimally for a specific set of thermal parameters. A thermal imaging camera is used to record temperature data for all coils at thermal equilibrium. Results show that with reasonable estimates of coil parameters the minimaxT method generates coils with improved thermal performance and considerably lower maximum temperature.