EUROTAPES

European development of Superconducting Tapes: integrating novel materials and architectures into cost effective processes for power applications and magnets

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'High current coated conductors (CC´s) have high potential for developing electrical power applications and very high field magnets. The key issues for market success are low cost robust processes, high performance and a reliable manufacturing methodology of long length conductors. In recent years EU researchers and companies have made substantial progress towards these goals, based on vacuum (PLD) and chemical deposition (CSD) methods, towards nanostructuring of films. This provides a unique opportunity for Europe to integrate these advances in high performance conductors. The EUROTAPES project will address two broad objectives: 1/ the integration of the latest developments into simple conductor architectures for low and medium cost applications and to deliver 500m tapes. Defining of quality control tools and protocols to enhance the processing throughput and yield to achieve a pre-commercial cost target of 100 €/kAm. 2/ Use of advanced methodologies to enhance performance (larger thickness and Ic, enhanced pinning for high fields, reduction of ac losses, increased mechanical strength). Demonstration of high critical currents (Ic>400A/cm-w, at 77K and self-field and Ic>1000A/cm-w at 5K and 15T) and pinning forces (Fp>100GN/m3 at 60 K). The CSD and PLD technologies will be combined to achieve optimized tape architectures, nanostructures and processes to address a variety of HTS applications at self-field, high and ultrahigh magnetic fields. Up to month 36, 3 types of conductors will be developed (RABiT, ABAD and round wire); at Mid Term 2 will be chosen for demonstration during the final 18 months. The consortium consists of 20 partners from 8 member states – 6 universities (Cambridge, UK; Antwerp, B, U.A. Barcelona, ES, TU Cluj, RO, U. Ghent, BE and TU Wien, A), 5 institutes (CSIC-ICMAB, E, ENEA, I, IEE, SK, Inst. Neel-CNRS, F, and IFW, D), 1 technological center (LEITAT, ES) and 8 industrial companies (Bruker, D, Evico, D, Theva, D, Nexans GmbH, D, Percotech, D, Nexans SA, F, Lafarga Lacambra, ES and Oxolutia, ES).'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Major energy savings and reductions in harmful emissions are a step closer with the development of viable superconducting tapes.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Discovered around 100 years ago, superconductors are materials that can efficiently conduct electricity with very low power losses compared to traditional cables. Currently used in medical imaging and as high-field magnets in scientific facilities, they have great potential for becoming a truly transformative technology. However, the main challenge associated with high-temperature superconductors is to form long-length wires and cables at a low cost to reliably transport energy at great distances.

In the EU-funded project http://eurotapes.eu/ (EUROTAPES), European researchers and companies have joined forces to overcome these limitations and provide long-length substrates for use in high-current superconducting tapes. EUROTAPES is using a method adapted from ink-jet printing to grow multi-layered structures. These are coated conductors (CCs) that are based on a metallic substrate. The method involves suspending nanoparticles into chemical or colloidal solutions and then printing the inks on top of each other to produce the tapes.

In particular, scientists are combining physical and chemical deposition techniques to produce the superconducting tapes, and nanocomposites as the ink for printing them. The developed nanocomposite conductors will have high pinning forces and high critical currents for high and ultra-high magnetic fields, high mechanical strength and large thickness.

So far, work has been geared toward developing novel advancements that should decrease the CCs' manufacturing costs. Scientists have explored simplified conductor architectures and implemented less costly methodologies in long-length manufacturing processes.

Scientists have also investigated different options to process round wires to ultimately design compact cables. It has been demonstrated that a helical geometry leads to extremely reduced alternating current losses and improved transport capacity. Another focus was to use environmentally friendly chemical processes such as eco-friendly metallic precursors to produce low-cost CCs.

Except for power applications, project findings are likely to have a great impact on medical applications such as in magnetic resonance imaging scanners. Furthermore, superconducting tapes could also provide high-field magnets for nuclear fusion.