Novel HTS Magnet Technology

The current capacity of coated High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) must be increased to ensure a more reliable and robust electricity supply.  This project will design, fabricate, and test a novel, ultra-high-field HTS magnet using second generation (2G) YBCO-coated conductor. This high-risk/high-reward magnet technology has the potential to leapfrog many existing ¿bulk¿ YBCO crystal applications. In Phase I, the 2G YBCO material will be commercially procurred. The novel HTS magnet then will be fabricated using patented and proprietary technology. The HTS coil will be tested at 77 K to investigate its critical-current-carrying capacity and magnetic field performance. In Phase II, a higher-field magnet using 2G YBCO conductor will be designed, fabricated, and tested. This higher-field coil will be tested at both 77 K and 30 K to evaluate its performance. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The superconducting wire should find applications in commercial and military devices including: MRI, NMR, fault-current limiters, magnetic separation, motors, and generators. The new magnet technology should surpass any other bulk crystal fabrication process recorded to date