Things to Think About When Estimating the Cost of Magnets Made With Conductors Other Than Nb-Ti

There have been a number of papers written about estimating the budgetary cost of superconducting magnets based on the magnet stored energy, magnetic induction times field volume, or the magnet coil and cryostat mass. The cost equations were based on using Nb-Ti as the superconductor. In all cases, a portion of the cold mass was devoted to carrying the magnetic forces. The cost equations could be applied to Nb-Ti cable in conduit magnets, because conduit is a part to the force carrying structure. This paper explains the factors that are involved that influence a cost estimate for magnets fabricated with other conductors such as Nb
₃
Sn, MgB
₂
, BSCCO, and second-generation ReBCO tapes. All of these conductors will add to the cost of the magnet because the conductor cost per ampere-meter is higher. In a number of cases there is a reaction and special insulation step added to the process of magnet fabrication. All of these conductors are much more strain sensitive than Nb-Ti, which can also add to the magnet cost. The effects of field orientation on conductor critical current and quenching will likely increase the magnet cost as well. The unknown factor is the cost of uncertainty and project delay.