Energy: from ENEA a record superconductor cable

Another step forward in nuclear fusion. An innovative super conductor cable for the reactor DEMO,  designed  by the Superconductivity  team of the ENEA Nuclear Fusion Department, has offered a 30% superior performance compared to ITER superconductors, the experimental facility under construction in France.

Section of the rectangular cable designed for the project DEMO by the Superconductivity team of the ENEA Nuclear Fusion Department, coordinated by the European Consortium EUROfusion and  implemented  with the collaboration of the Italian Companies TRATOS Cavi and CRIOTEC Impianti.

Record performance for the new superconductor cable designed by ENEA for DEMO, the reactor that –once feasibility and cost effectiveness of nuclear fission are demonstrated- it’s going to produce electricity.

The prototype has provided  a 30% superior performance over ITER cables, proving to be able to carry a 82ka(kiloamperes) in a 13T(Tesla) magnetic field up to a 7K (Kelvin) temperature, equal to -266°C.

The rectangular configuration of the new superconductor cable in fact, allows to distribute the huge electromagnetic loads –equal to approximately 100 t per meter of conductor- so as to avoid performance degradation.

The testing of the superconductor characteristics was carried out in Switzerland at the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) Laboratories that also collaborated to manufacture part of the sample, the thermal treatment and the installation of the equipment.  “With this test-Antonio Della Corte, ENEA Superconductivity Team Leader pointed out- we have demonstrated to be able to design reliable high power superconductive cables having “extreme”characteristics, as required by projects like DEMO”. The prototype of the cable –of a CICC (Cable in Conduit Conductor) type- was developed by the ENEA industrial partners, TRATOS Cavi Spa. and CRIOTEC Impianti Srl.. It’s an example of synergy between public research and private companies, developed as a consequence of the combined experience of ITER and JT- 60SA, the two fusion experiments currently taking place in Europe and Japan respectively- that has  secured Italy contracts worth almost one million euro.

For more information please contact:

Antonio Della Corte, ENEA Frascati Research Center, antonio.dellacorte@enea.it