Measurement of the joint resistance of large-current YBCO conductors

Abstract

Feasibility studies on applying high-temperature superconductors (HTS) to the LHD-type heliotron fusion energy reactor FFHR are being carried out. Because the HTS conductor has high cryogenic stability at elevated temperature operations (e.g. 20K) and the refrigeration power has enough margins, it is considered that Joule heating dissipation generated at joints of conductors is acceptable to facilitate the segmented fabrication of the helical coils of FFHR. In this study, the joint resistance with 10-kA class YBCO conductors has been measured to evaluate the joule heating dissipation in the FFHR magnet. The experiment has been carried out by fabricating a soldered lap joint and a mechanical lap joint. The feasibility of segmented fabrication is examined by the measured results. © 2012 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research.