High Current Capacity High Temperature Superconducting Film Based Tape for High Field Magnets

170 High Current Capacity High Temperature Superconducting Film Based Tape for High Field Magnets--Midwest Superconductivity, Inc., 1315 Wakarusa Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049-3830; (913) 749-3613 Dr. Ying Xin, Principal Investigator Dr. Jonathan W. Wilson, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82432 Amount: $75,000 High field magnets for the next generation of high energy particle accelerators demand new conductors that are capable of surpassing the presently available low temperature superconductors in terms of current capacity and cost effectiveness. This project will evaluate a leading candidate for this application: a high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire based on chemical vapor deposition of thick films of the compound Yttrium-Barium-Copper on long lengths of textured metal substrates. The project should result in the development of a tape architecture suitable for testing for high field magnet applications. Magnets based on this material could reduce the size and cooling requirements or increase the power of magnets for accelerator experiments. In the Phase I program, one meter tapes of superconducting film based conductor will be baseline tested under temperature and field conditions pertinent to accelerator applications. The substrate for the tapes will be based on the recently developed Rolling Assisted Bi-Axially Textured Substrate technology. In addition, experiments will be performed to significantly enhance the current carrying capacity of the present film based conductor by producing short samples on textured nickel substrates with superconducting film thicknesses on the order of ten microns. Means of adding stabilizer material for quench protection will also be explored. Phase II will involve the long length fabrication of tape with the specialized architecture and testing in tape and coil configurations. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The high temperature superconducting tape developed under this project would have direct application in high field magnets for high energy accelerators. The performance enhancements developed for this application will also provide very broad benefits to electric energy/power applications such as large industrial motors, transformers and generators.