Characterization of a novel TORT cable wound of stabilized striated REBCO tapes for reduced magnetization AC losses

Abstract

REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide) high-temperature superconducting tapes, have a high potential for winding of large magnet coils. Tapes on round tube (TORT) cables represent a promising option for achieving a conductor suitable for the winding of magnet coils. However, certain applications, such as accelerator magnets, require the use of superconducting cables with low magnetization alternative current (AC) losses. There are several methods to reduce AC losses in TORT cables. Our first approach was to get rid of eddy currents by replacing the copper former with dielectric materials based on polymers and composites, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified reinforced with carbon fibers. Additional reduction of hysteretic loss was achieved by striating of copper coated REBCO tapes. We employed chemo-mechanical striating, for these objectives. However, the superconductor is exposed during the striating process, which may lead to later moisture-related degradation. Hence multilayers based on Ti/AlN were deposited using magnetron sputtering in order to protect the superconductor immediately after the striating process from water and atmospheric moisture corrosion. Subsequently, striated tapes as well as the non-striated tapes were then wound onto formers with diameters of 10 mm, 7 mm and 5.5 mm, and then on the short TORT cables bending tests were performed. After each technological step, direct current measurements were performed on the samples and finally the AC losses were measured.