Europe completes toroidal field strand qualification
Following the qualification process required for the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ conductors, the European Domestic Agency has launched a series of conductor performance qualification samples (so-called CPQS).
After the successful test of the fourth European sample EUTF4 in June 2009, the European Domestic Agency signed a first contract for the supply of more than 58 tonnes of niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) strand for the toroidal field conductors with Oxford Superconducting Technology this August. The quantity is equivalent to about 60 percent of the total European Nb3Sn contribution, and with a volume of approximately EUR 40 million, this contract represents one of the largest the European agency has placed so far for the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Project.
And there is more good news. This week, the EUTF5 sample made of Nb3Sn strand produced by Bruker EAS in Germany completed 1,000 load cycles with a final current sharing temperature (Tcs) above 6 K, thus meeting ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ's toroidal field conductor design criteria of 5.7 K.