Patent ID: 8027139

Claim:
A superconducting magnet ramp-down unit comprising: an electrically conductive lead connectable to a superconducting magnet; a plurality of diode assemblies arranged in series and coupled to the electrically conductive lead, each diode assembly having a first node and a second node; a plurality of switches arranged in parallel with the plurality of diode assemblies, each switch having a first position and a second position, and wherein each switch, when in the first position, forms an electrical short between the first and second nodes of a corresponding diode assembly; and a controller programmed to: receive at least one magnet parameter value indicative of a present state of the superconducting magnet; determine a number of the plurality of diode assemblies through which current from the electrically conductive lead is desired to pass based on the at least one magnet parameter value; and selectively actuate the plurality of switches respectively coupled to the determined number of diode assemblies to the second position, such that the current from the superconducting magnet passes through the determined number of diode assemblies.