Design and test of a high temperature superconductor current lead

A 600 A High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) current lead has been designed, fabricated and tested. The design of the HTS current lead is optimized to reduce the heat leak and to operate safely during fault mode conditions. The current lead consists of a resistive part cooled with helium forced flow and HTS part that is cooled with boiled off helium gas. The HTS part is composed of Bi-2223 with Ag 10 at.% Au alloy matrix. Results of the electrical and thermal tests of the current lead are presented.