Case studies in reconstruction efficiency of current distribution in CICC's by self field measurements

The measurements of the self magnetic field by means of Hall sensors (HS) in the vicinity of a superconducting cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) is often used to study current distribution effects. It is possible that current imbalance may affect the performance of CICC's and therefore knowledge of the current distribution is needed. Recently a model was presented to approximate the current distribution inside a conductor. Basically, the inverse problem must be solved in which the input data usually are the experimentally measured values of the local magnetic field, the location and orientation of the HS's and the geometry of the line or segment currents. All these, together with the adopted algorithm, determine the accuracy of the reconstruction procedure. In the present study the impact of two basic orientations of the HS: polar-symmetric and plane-parallel on the current reconstruction efficiency is performed for the analytical model developed in Twente. For the case study, a 36 strands CICC and a mock-up conductor are considered. The influence of the experimental errors and geometrical errors on the model output is also investigated

Study of the Effect of Transport Current and Combined Transverse and Longitudinal Fields on the AC Loss in NET Prototype Conductors

AC losses in cables carrying DC as well as AC transport currents at different DC background fields up to 2T have been measured on three types of Nb3Sn subcables in a new test facility. In this facility it is possible to apply sinusoidal transverse AC fields up to dB/dt=5T/s and longitudinal AC fields up to dB/dt=30T/s separately and simultaneously. The AC loss is measured with a calorimetric method. Simultaneously applied transverse and longitudinal fields can result in a loss which exceeds the added contributions of the separate applied AC fields. Within the measured range it is about correct (within 10%) to add the loss components due to DC transport current up to 10 kA and both applied transverse and longitudinal AC fields. The measured total loss is always above the sum of the loss component

Optimisation of ITER Nb3Sn CICCs for coupling loss, transverse electromagnetic load and axial thermal contraction

The ITER cable-in-conduit conductors (CICCs) are built up from sub-cable bundles, wound in different stages, which are twisted to counter coupling loss caused by time-changing external magnet fields. The selection of the twist pitch lengths has major implications for the performance of the cable in the case of strain sensitive superconductors, i.e. Nb3Sn, as the electromagnetic and thermal contraction loads are large but also for the heat load from the AC coupling loss. Reduction of the transverse load and warm-up cool-down degradation can be reached by applying longer twist pitches in a particular sequence for the sub-stages, offering a large cable transverse stiffness, adequate axial flexibility and maximum allowed lateral strand support. Analysis of short sample (TF conductor) data reveals that increasing the twist pitch can lead to a gain of the effective axial compressive strain of more than 0.3 % with practically no degradation from bending. For reduction of the coupling loss, specific choices of the cabling twist sequence are needed with the aim to minimize the area of linked strands and bundles that are coupled and form loops with the applied changing magnetic field, instead of simply avoiding longer pitches. In addition we recommend increasing the wrap coverage of the CS conductor from 50 % to at least 70 %. The models predict significant improvement against strain sensitivity and substantial decrease of the AC coupling loss in Nb3Sn CICCs, but also for NbTi CICCs minimization of the coupling loss can be achieved. Although the success of long pitches to transverse load degradation was already demonstrated, the prediction of the combination with low coupling loss needs to be validated by a short sample test.Comment: to be published in Supercond Sci Techno

The Effect of Inter-bundle Resistive Barriers on Coupling Loss, Current Distribution and DC Performance in ITER Conductors

The role of inter-bundle resistive barriers (metal sheet wraps), introduced to reduce the inter-bundle coupling loss in multistage cabled Cable-In-Conduit Conductors (CICC) for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is evaluated, based on results gained recently on short sample experiments in the Twente Cable Press and SULTAN. The obvious benefit of limiting the inter bundle coupling loss unavoidably goes together with impeding the redistribution of nonuniform currents in the coil winding introduced at the terminations, as well as reduction of the heat exchange between the bundles. Six-element numerical electromagnetic code simulations are presented that qualitatively explain the effect of wraps on the DC performance, strongly depending on the testing geometry. The computations illustrate that wraps can reduce the DC performance in short sample tests. At the same time simulations of the Poloidal Field Coil Insert (PFCI), with a winding length of 50 m, have shown that omitting sub-stage wraps, can even degrade the DC performance of coils due to the short current transfer length in combination with current nonuniformity causing peak voltages in the most overloaded petals

Electromagnetic Performance of Sub-Size NbTi CICC's Subjected to Transverse Cyclic Loading

It was demonstrated previously that transverse cable loading due to electromagnetic forces in coils has a strong impact on the inter-strand contact resistance R/sub c/ of poloidal field (PF) cable-in-conduit conductors (CICC) for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Continuing the study, two NbTi medium-size CICC's were subjected to cyclic loading up to 40,000 cycles in the Twente Cryogenic Press in order to simulate transversal forces on the strands and to verify their influence on the conductors' contact resistances R/sub c/ and AC loss behavior. The results are presented and compared with the data obtained on the other section of the same conductor lengths in the SULTAN test facility and on full size ITER cables tested in the cryogenic press

Self Field Measurements by Hall Sensors on the SeCRETS Long Sample CICCs in SULTAN

The aim of this work is to determine the existence and degree of the current unbalance of two types of cable-in-conduit conductors (CICC) of the SeCRETS long sample experiment, and its influence on the conductors' performance. The self-field measurements are performed by using six sets of annular Hall sensors, each containing six sensors, and two linear arrays with ten sensors. The change of the self-field is associated with the redistribution of the transport current between the strands inside the conductor during and after a ramp of current, due to changes of the applied magnetic field or temperature of the conductor. During the DC, AC losses and stability tests, the signals from the Hall sensors were recorded. In DC tests, a clear change of the self-field pattern is observed in the high field region when either current or temperature approached their critical (I/sub cs/ and T/sub cs/) values. No change in the self-field pattern is observed in the experiments with pulsed fields. The method requires improvements for a reasonable quantitative assessment of the current unbalance in the conductor

Evolution of contact resistance and coupling loss in prototype ITER PF NbTi conductors under transverse cyclic load

Cyclic energizing of a magnet coil with Cable in Conduit Conductors (CICC), as for fusion applications, results in an anomalous change of the interstrand contact resistance (R/sub c/) and coupling loss (n/spl tau/) due to the alternating transverse forces. Previously, three Nb/sub 3/Sn ITER conductors have been tested in a cryogenic press, up to 40 cycles. Now, for the first time, the behavior of NbTi conductors under cyclic load is investigated and results are presented for three full-size prototype ITER Poloidal Field (PF) Coil conductors. One conductor has bare copper strands and no petal wrapping while the others have a Cr and solder strand surface coating. The press can transmit a maximum transverse force of 800 kN/m directly to a cable section of 400 mm length at 4.2 K. Each conductor is tested up to 220 kN/m and 40,000 full loading cycles. The magnetization of the conductors and the R/sub c/ between combinations of strands and strand bundles is measured at various number of cycles. It appears that the R/sub c/ can vary for up to orders of magnitude during cyclic loading

Self field measurements by Hall sensors on the SeCRETS short sample CICC's subjected to cyclic load

An imbalance in the transport current among the strands of a Cable-in-Conduit conductors (CICC) can be associated with the change of their performance. In order to understand and improve the performance of CICC's, it is essential to study the current imbalance. This paper focuses on the study of the current imbalance in two short samples of the SeCRETS (Segregated Copper Ratio Experiment on Transient Stability) conductors subjected to a cyclic load in the SULTAN facility. The self field around the conductors was measured on four locations by 32 miniature Hall sensors for a reconstruction of the current distribution. The results of the self field measurements in the DC tests are presented and discussed