Challenges in the Thermal Modeling of Quenches With ROXIE

The simulation of thermal processes in a superconducting coil during resistive transition is an intricate problem. A detailed thermo-hydraulic modeling comes at a high computational cost and suffers from the large number of empirical parameters. We present a macroscopical approach, covering the most relevant features while providing enough flexibility to gauge the material parameters with measurements. By combining the thermal model with numerical field computation, effects can be simulated that are otherwise difficult to measure, e.g., turn-to-turn voltages, quench propagation and recovery. The thermal model recently implemented in the CERN field computation program ROXIE is validated by means of measurements on model and prototype magnets, as well as data taken during the hardware commissioning of the LHC.