WB-3-2-INV

Latest development on CORC® cables and wires for high-field magnet and electric aircraft applications

15:30-16:00　28/11/2023

*D.C. van der Laana,b, Z. Johnsonb, J.D. Weissab, S. Doengesa, K. Radcliffa, E. Nilssonc, J. Rivencc, J. F. Rouquettec, L. Ybanezc, X. Wangd, H. Higleyd, R. Teyberd, M. Kumare, P. Yoshie, A. Nijhuisf
a. Advanced Conductor Technologies LLC, Boulder, Colorado 80301, U.S.A
b. The Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A
c. Airbus UpNext SAS, Toulouse, France
d. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
e. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, U.S.A.
f. University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
Abstract Body

Advanced Conductor Technologies is developing Conductor on Round Core (CORC®) cables and wires wound from REBCO coated conductors for use in high-field magnets for fusion and particle accelerators, and for use in power applications such as electric aircraft. We will provide an overview of the latest development of CORC® conductors with a focus on their performance at high magnetic field, their high stress and strain tolerance, and their higher bending flexibility.

An overview of the latest magnet development using CORC® conductors will be provided, with a focus on prototype particle accelerator magnets that would ultimately generate dipole fields exceeding 20 T. Long-length, high current density CORC® wires are being developed from which a 5 T canted-cosine-theta (CCT) magnet will be wound at Berkeley National Laboratory. Details of Common Coil insert magnets, wound from high-current CORC® cables using a novel winding technique, and their successful test within the 10 T LTS Common Coil outsert at Brookhaven National Laboratory will be provided.

The development of CORC® cables for use in twin aisle electric aircraft that require delivery of electric power in the order of tenths of MW will be outlined. We will focus on the development of coaxial CORC® power cables with an operating current of 5 kA in combination with an operating voltage of 10 kV, which would result in a capacity of 50 MW. Application of CORC® power cables in the ground-based Advanced Superconducting and Cryogenic Experimental power train Demonstrator ASCEND) at Airbus will be highlighted. ASCEND intends to demonstrate the potential and feasibility of a cryogenic and superconducting powertrain as a breakthrough electric propulsion solution on future electric aircraft. Advanced Conductor Technologies developed the 10-meter long dc and 2-meter long ac power bus and associated connecting devices for ASCEND, which have been delivered to Airbus in early 2023. We will provide an overview of their integration with the motor control unit and 0.5 MW superconducting motor at Airbus, and of the final commissioning of ASCEND.