Cold Performance Tests of the ITER 68 kA HTS Current Lead Prototypes

Abstract

• The cold performance test under 4 K is crucial and essential for the most challenged TF prototype HTS current leads. Detailed test process and method are presented. • Many overcurrent and over cooling case were performed to study the TF current leads, and the 1-hand test results and some analysis were presented • The test process and result is important for all the series TF current leads and for the operation in the future. The Toroidal Field (TF) current leads which supply 68 kA DC current for the TF coils are the largest capacity High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) current leads among the three types of HTS current leads for ITER. Two TF HTS current leads prototypes have been successfully built and cold tested at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP). The cold performance test is a crucial step to verify the design parameters and manufacturing process before starting the series production. The cold performance test includes rated current steady state operation and Loss Of Flow Accident (LOFA) test, different Heat eXchanger (HX) boundary operation, over-current, joint resistance, and heat conduction tests. This paper will present the major results of those tests.