EXPERTISE OF CRPP SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

CRPP-SC has developed, through the design, development and testing of superconducting coil systems for several large scale international hardware projects ( history ), an expertise for:

• Superconductor material science
• Conductor technology
• Cryogenics
• Magnet technology
• Design and system studies and
• Performance testing,

which provides the fundament of the current activities and of the operation of the test facilities.

Visit the CRPP-SC orientation map.

MOTIVATION

Leading concepts for experimental fusion reactors rely on the magnetic confinement of plasma (Tokamak, Stellarator). The required field distributions are generated by complex electromagnetic systems (one third of the reactor investment) with demanding requirements, e.g. large field volume, high magnetic field, high current density and high power efficiency. These requirements can only be fulfilled by using superconductivity, i.e. the flow of electric current without resistance at cryogenic (very low) temperatures.

Although the technology of superconductors made remarkable progress for applications like medical diagnostic imaging, NMR, particle accelerators, electronics, etc. and even revolutionary new materials with relatively high operating temperatures were lately discovered, the development of superconducting coils for fusion reactors remains a singular technical challenge.

Most of the problems of sophisticated engineering, conductor development and material research, are tackled worldwide in the frame of a well coordinated program of collaboration ( ITER , European Fusion Technology Program ) of specialized arbitrators and industrial companies.

CRPP-Superconductivity
Secretariat
CH-5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland
tel: +41-56 310-3259
fax: +41-56-310-3729