A Linear-Motor Type HTS Flux Pump With Pumped Current Exceeding 640 A

Abstract

In this paper, we present the fabrication and performance of a linear-motor type flux pump with a pumped current larger than 640 A. This high-temperature superconducting (HTS) flux pump can be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) magnets and HTS electric machines. We use the flux pump to charge 10 superconducting closed-loops, and show the tested results of pumping current under different applied frequencies and magnetic field amplitudes. This flux pump device can output direct current larger than 640 A at 77 K. The output of this flux pump equals to a DC power source with low output voltage and high output current. Comparing with the traditional power supply of the same rated current, the size of this HTS flux pump is much smaller, while it also eliminates the harmful metal current leads that cause heat leakage. We show that, by increasing the length of the travelling wave region of this flux pump, there is no limit to the output of the current output, which can reasonably reach the kilo-ampere level. The purpose of this paper is to test the reliability of the methodology for the large current HTS flux pump.