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Flexible
Niobium-Tin Cables Suitable to React-then-Wind Approach to
Fabricating Accelerator Magnets--Superconducting
Systems, Inc., 90 Rumford Avenue, Waltham, MA
02453; 781-642-6702
Dr.
Shanin Pourrahimi, Principal Investigator, pourrahimi@superconductingsyst
Dr.
Shanin Pourrahimi, Business Official, pourrahimi@superconductingsyst
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-00ER83099
Amount:
$500,000
The
long term goals for high energy physics research require Nb3Sn
superconducting magnets with unprecedented performance and cost reductions for
the construction of next generation particle accelerators.
In this project, an innovative route will be used to fabricate flexible
Nb3Sn cables that in turn could be used to fabricate Nb3Sn
magnets by the more reliable and economical react-then-wind approach.
In Phase I, a gas mixing setup, using an oxygen analysis unit in
conjunction with a programmable furnace, was designed and commissioned. The system uses a computer data acquisition unit to continuously
monitor the oxygen level during the heat treatment of Nb3Sn cables.
The feasibility of producing flexible Nb3Sn cables by controlling
oxide layer thickness was demonstrated, and between-wire bonding within sample
cables was studied. Phase II will
continue to exploit the advantages of oxide-control in fabricating flexible Nb3Sn
cables, scale-up for intermediate scale productions, adapt the approach to use
high performance internal tin Nb3Sn wires, conduct transconductance
and stability measurements, and fabricate and characterize high current
flexible Nb3Sn cables.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:
The flexible
Nb3Sn cables should find application in next generation particle
accelerators, energy storage, fusion reactors, and NMR magnets.