Superconducting coil operating at temperatures above 15K for ADR instruments

The new high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil technology proposed for development in this program is vital for NASA to be able to advance the capabilities of its ADR cooling systems that maintain important space-based instruments at milli Kelvin temperatures. It will provide unmatched benefits. This program will complete development of advanced ADR magnet coils by applying our recently developed first-of-their-kind low loss HTS wires based on the “2212” material that meets all the requirements put out by NASA in topic S16.07 of the FOA for next generation HTS-based ADR coils, including low losses in ramped field to 4T, high, > 300 A/mm2 in-coil coil operating current densities at temperatures above 15K and fields to 4T, combined with very small cross-sections that enables the specified small 6 A to 8 A operating current. It was recently established that the react-and-wind coil making approach can be applied to fabricate ADR coils with these low loss HTS-2212 wires. This program will now finish adapting long, >2.5 km length drawn low loss HTS 2212 wire with a much higher current density that is optimally suitable for a react-and wind ADR coil making approach. This wire will then be utilized to complete the development of fully functional, ADR coils that operate at temperatures above 12 K. By the end of the Phase II program a full radial build and length (60 mm) bore ADR coil will be produced and validated to meet all the requirements put forth to attain ramped fields to 4T at the required ramp rates with acceptably low losses, as well as having all of its vital auxiliary features developed, such as terminations and potting, so that no additional significant development will be required before NASA can start to qualify and incorporate this coil type into their next generation ADR systems.