Experimental results of a 70 kA high temperature superconductor current lead demonstrator for the ITER magnet system

In the frame of the European Fusion Technology Programme, the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe and the CRPP Villigen have designed and built a 70 kA current lead for the ITER TF Coils using High Temperature Superconductors (HTS). At the beginning of 2004 the HTS current lead was installed and tested in the TOSKA facility of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. The scope of the experiment was to characterize the current lead in steady state conditions and to explore the operation limits as well. For this, the temperature profile, the contact resistances, the heat load at 4.5 K, the required 50 K He mass flow rate, and the temperature margin were evaluated. The safety margin in case of a loss of He mass flow was studied, too. The paper describes the experimental results as well as the thermal and electrical models developed.CRPPSPCPart

The ITER toroidal field model coil project

The ITER toroidal field model coil (TFMC) was designed, constructed and tested by the European Home Team in the framework of the ITER research and development program of the Engineering Design Activities (EDA). The project was performed under the leadership of European Fusion Development Activity/Close Support Unit (EFDA/CSU), Ciarching. in collaboration with the European superconductor laboratories and the European industry. The TFMC wits developed and constructed in collaboration with the European industry consortium (AGAN) and Europa Metalli LMI supplied the conductor, The TFMC was tested in the test phase I as single coil and in phase 11 in the background field of the EURATOM LCT coil in the TOSKA facility of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. In phase 1, the TFMC achieved an ITER TF coil relevant current of about 80kA and further representative test results before the end of the EDA. In the more complex test phase [I. the coil was exposed to ITER TF coil relevant mechanical stresses in the winding pack and case. The tests confirmed that engineering design principles and manufacturing procedures are sound and suitable for the ITER TF full size coils. The electromagnetic. thermo hydraulic and mechanical operation parameters agree well with predictions. The achieved Lorentz force on the conductor was about 800 kN/m. That has been equivalent to the Lorentz forces in ITER TF coils. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved