Development and test results of a 60kA HTS current lead for fusion application

Isono, Takaaki; Hamada, Kazuya; Kawano, Katsumi; Abe, Kanako*; Nunoya, Yoshihiko; Sugimoto, Makoto; Ando, Toshinari*; Okuno, Kiyoshi; Bono, Takaaki*; Tomioka, Akira*; Sanuki, Yasutaka*; Konno, Masayuki*; Uede, Toshio*

JAERI has been developing a large-capacity high-temperature superconductor (HTS) current lead for fusion application, and succeeded in fabricating and testing a 60kA HTS current lead satisfying ITER requirements. Targets of performance are 1/10 heat leak and 1/3 electric power consumption of cryogenic system compared with a conventional lead. To achieve the target, selection of sheath material of HTS, optimizing the Cu part, reduction of joule heat at joint between HTS and Cu parts, improve of heat transfer between HTS and stainless steel tube. Developed 60kA HTS current lead satisfied the design condition and almost achieved the targets. Adoption of the HTS current lead can reduce 13% electric power consumption of cryogenic system for ITER.