HTS SMES magnet design and test results

This paper describes design, construction, and testing of a 5 kJ superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) magnet. This magnet was built by American Superconductor Corporation (ASC) for Gesellschaft fur Innovative Energieumwandlung und Speicherung (EUS) of Germany. The magnet consists of a solenoidal coil constructed from a silver-sheathed BiPb/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 2/O (Bi-2223) conductor which was reacted before winding. The coil is epoxy impregnated and cooled with single stage Gifford McMahon (G-M) cryocoolers for operation at 100 A (DC) with substantial AC components due to the frequent variation of current (ramp-up and ramp-down.) The magnet was tested in early spring of 1996 and was shipped to EUS in mid June. The successful operation of this magnet illustrates that the technology of cooling HTS magnets with G-M type cryocooler is now fully established. The long-term operation of this magnet at EUS will verify the reliability of HTS magnet system in critical applications and will open future applications for HTS in the area of SMES and other magnets.