Superconducting coil support device and method

In a large-scaled superconducting coils for use in an experimental thermonuclear device, it is necessary to suppress deformation of the coils without increasing the number of coil supporting members. In a method of enhousing superconducting coils in a plurality of coil cases and supporting the coil cases by coil supporting members, reinforcing plates are inserted to support coils to such a surface at which deformation between coil cases or between coil support members is forecast. The reinforcing plate has a substantially T-shaped cross section. Further, a binder is applied to the outer circumference of the superconducting coils to compensate the binding force between each turn of the coils thereby preventing each turn from displacing and scattering. Deformation of coils can be suppressed by a simple method without increasing the number of supporting portions or increasing the thickness of a conduit. The space for installation of coils can be reduced safely, free of insulation breakdown and causing less erroneous magnetic field. (N.H.)