Cyclic and mechanical test results of the 100 kWh SMES model coil

The long term reliability of the SMES model coil for the 100 kWh SMES pilot plant was investigated in a 1000 cycles cyclic test in the test facility of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in 1998, in collaboration between Japan and the USA. The coil parameters such as coil inductance, magnetic field and AC loss were measured before and after the cyclic test. They did not change. The coil was successfully charged up to 40.53 kA in the mechanical performance test, which gave mechanically the same conditions as in the SMES pilot plant at rated current. After all performance tests, the coil was checked visually and electrically, and no degradation was observed. Mechanical reliability of the SMES model coil was verified in the performance tests. The obtained technical results encourage recommendation of the construction of the pilot plant.