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Superconductivity accelerates a sustainable future

Sabrina El Yacoubi — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 08:14:58 +0000

Superconductivity accelerates a sustainable future
By Panos Charitos (CERN)

At the two-and-a-half-day Superconductivity Hackathon that hosted by CERN’s IdeaSquare, students worked side-by-side with scientists, researchers and company representatives, to solve problems in different application fields by using the advantages of superconductivity. Interdisciplinarity, creativity and collaboration are the keys to success and the hackathon offered numerous possibilities of interexchange with several experts thanks to its character and informal setting.In addition, the event highlighted the importance of preparing now the next generation of experts for the challenges that lie ahead.

The phenomenon of superconductivity, discovered around 100 years ago, has yet to find its way everyday life. Particle physics uses superconducting magnets since the late 1960s. These magnets generate stronger magnetic fields to curve particle trajectories, thereby allowing to reach previous unexplored territories at higher energies and higher intensities. Moreover superconductors are used for the detector magnets allowing to study in great detail the debris of very energetic particle collisions. Together with their impact on fundamental research, superconductivity has an unexpected transformative potential that can guarantee a greener and sustainable future. Superconductors are the natural choice for any application where strong magnetic fields are needed including applications as diverse as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the magnetic separation of minerals in the mining industry and efficient power transmission lines.

An intensive 3-day Superconductivity Hackathon took place at CERN’s Idea Square (Image Credit: FCC collaboration).

The promise for future technologies is even greater, and overcoming our limited understanding of the fundamental principles of superconductivity and enabling large-quantity production of high-quality conductors at affordable prices will open new business opportunities. In an effort to transfer this leading-edge technology to daily applications and tackle the above challenges, the Marie-Curie training network EASITRAIN together with the FCC study, HL-LHC project and CERN’s KT group established a collaboration with the Vienna University of Economics to research new fields of application that generate socio-economical value.

During the past semester, students identified and evaluated new fields of application. More than 120 qualitative interviews with experts from a broad range of industries were carried and 29 potential application areas were selected that in close consultation with the technology and industry experts were subsequently narrowed down to three specific cases: Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, fruit sorting machines to monitor food quality and a visionary rocket launch system that could boost our exploration of the solar system in an energy and cost efficient way compared to current conventional systems.

The three topics informed the work of the six teams that participated in the Hackathon. During an intense 3-day program, they identified the challenges for each application, evaluated its commercial adaptation and developed business strategies. Academic and industrial experts joined the teams to answer their questions and steer their imagination. Industrial experts from Babcock Noell (superconducting flywheels for UPS systems), Equinix (Data Centres) MicroTech (fruit shorting machines) and Swissloop (concepts for Hyperloop in Switzelrnad) worked together with the students to develop applications with short-term or long-term applicability. “We have tried to work out our solutions as practically as possible and always have an eye on their concrete implementation" says Marco Boschett from MicroTech, one of the companies that participated in the SC Hackathon.

The jury prize went to the team who developed a fruit sorting method for avocados that will determine the fruits’ maturity. Tonnes of fruit have to be disposed of worldwide because current technologies based on spectroscopy are not able to determine the maturity level of fruit sufficiently accurately, with techniques also offering limited information about small-sized fruit. Superconductors would enable NMR-based scanning systems that allow producers to accurately and non-destructively determine their valuable properties saving billions every year. "The superconducting technology could present the next innovation in the market for the fruit processing industry and open up new possibilities, which ultimately benefits the consumer", said Microtec CEO Federico Giudiceandrea.

Superconductors could present the next innovation in the market for the fruit processing industry and open up new possibilities (Image Credits: Athina Papageorgiou Koufidou)

The audience award was given for the concept of a novel space transport method. Have you ever considered a global energy crisis in the near future? The team dealt with this potential threat and came up with a futuristic, albeit realistic solution. They developed the concept of a high-innovative transport method to harvest the moon using superconductors technology. The moon holds essential resources, including helium-3 which is a gas that could be used as fuel in future nuclear fusion power plants. By establishing two space module stations on the moon and a futuristic space shuttle it will be possible to transport helium-3 to earth while the same station could be used for future trips to the neighborhood of our solar system.

The audience award went to the team that designed a novel superconducting rocket launch system (Image Credit: Athina Papageorgiou Koufidou)

But it is not only the scientific results that matter. The participant build new networks and they will continue working together to cultivate and expand the newly established contacts from the different academic institutes and industries. As Markus Nordberg, head of IdeaSquare, mentioned in his speech during the award ceremony: “You are all winners and the biggest prize is sharing, the fact that you met and shared your experiences and ideas”.

The time is right for superconductivity to emerge as the next great transformational technology — with far-reaching impact: From building new powerful scientific instruments like a future circular collider reaching unprecedented energy scales but also for paving the way to new applications in medicine, energy and other fields impacting our lives.

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issue 22

superconductivity

Hackaton

Superconductors

FCC paves the way for future superconductors

Panagiotis Charitos — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 12:03:38 +0000

FCC paves the way for future superconductors
by Panos Charitos (CERN)

Nb3Sn Rutherford cable for high-field magnets to be used in HL-LHC as well as for future colliders covered by the FCC study (Image: CERN)

The FCC Week 2017 offered a unique opportunity to discuss the program and the on-going activities, for the development of Nb3Sn superconductor for the FCC 16T magnets. In a number of dedicated sessions, scientists and industry representatives came together to discuss targets and work on conductor launched for enabling design of compact and cost-efficient magnet design.

In her opening talk, Amalia Ballarino, Head of CERN’s Superconductors & Superconducting devices section, reported on the challenges associated with the development of a Nb3Sn wire that should have performance exceeding that of present state-of-the-art materials. She also reported on the status and progress of the collaboration agreements (Japan, Korea, Russia) launched by CERN and carried-out in the past year. Specific strategic R&D programs have been launched, in parallel with the on-going production for HL-LHC (Europe and USA). Indeed, both performance and quantity of conductor needed for a potential future FCC machine require a world-wide effort. Three talks from Japan, Korea and Russia followed her presentation and reported on the status of the on-going work. Encouraging results were already presented and discussed. Performance increase is one of the key targets of the 16 T conductor development programme. Ballarino emphasized the importance of developing higher critical current density (J_c) at the target field, i.e. the amount of current that goes through the superconducting part of the wire that represents about 50% of the total cross section.

Ballarino emphasized that the focus at this stage is on the development of Nb3Sn multi-filamentary wires meeting the target performance of 1,500 Amperes/mm² at 16 Tesla and a temperature of 4.2 Kelvin (-268.95 °C). She reported that the cost of the process adopted for the R&D work shall also enable large scale production and achievement of the final target (≤ 5 Euro/kA m) – together with an increased J_c. Presently, the conductor procured from HL-LHC has an average of 1,000 A/mm2, with some samples reaching about 1200 A/mm², and a fundamental development R&D effort has to be done in order reach the goal for FCC.

Another key aspect for the success of the programme is to involve industrial partners from an early stage. From the current experience from LHC and HL-LHC we know that the performance requirements for Nb3Sn conductor for future circular collider are challenging. A large industrial effort is needed to engage the community on performance and feasibility of a potential very large-scale production (thousands of tons of conductor).

Researches from various laboratories come close with tindustry to study new materials and ways to achieve the required goal. Examples of academic activities include the characterization of materials that take place in laboratories and institutes all progressing in a global fashion.

Finally, Ballarino reported that the conductor programme explores also the potential of other still novel superconductors MgB2 and iron based superconductors are part of the study. Though these materials are not mature today for magnet development, they both show some potential and are therefore worth investigating for future applications. Understanding of present limits of MgB2 at high field and potentials of iron based are being carried out via collaborations launched by CERN with SPIN and Columbus. Marina Putti from University of Genova/SPIN discussed the collaboration agreement with CERN concerning the development and characterization of MgB2, Bi-2212 and iron based superconductors. Moreover, Columbus Superconductors studies the production of MgB2 wire optimized for high fields.

Cost reduction is one of the key challenges that was clearly set from the beginning of this program and lies at the centre of the study for a future circular collider. Further work is needed to understand how this goal can be achieved. Clearly, increase of Jc, large billets size, the optimization of the processcost along with the optimization of raw materials that arekey elements for cost optimization.

In addition to increased performance and reduced costs, the feasibility of large production is a main target for the future. As Ballarino mentioned, the FCC-hh baseline scenario would require about 7000-9000 tons while a High Energy LHC would require about 2500 tons. This poses a significant challenge compared to present project where Nb3Sn production is also important like ITER (about 500 tons) and the amount for the foreseen HL-LHC upgrade (25 tons).

In parallel with the development of the conductor, the procurement of about 290 km of Nb3Sn wire is foreseen, to cover the needs of the magnet program from 2018 to 2019. The program will also require an additional 6 tons from 2020 to 2030. For this wires, the target J_c (4. 2K, 16T) is 1200 A/mm²and a minimum J_c (4.2 K, 16T) equal to 1000 A/mm².

FCC Conductor development paves the way for the future. Synergies between magnet designers, superconductor experts, material scientists and industry are required to make the next step. The meeting pointed to that direction by bringing together industrial partners and external laboratories and by encouraging collaborations amongst them.

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High Temperature Superconductors in the LHC

Sabrina El Yacoubi — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:37:07 +0000

High Temperature Superconductors in the LHC
by Amalia Ballarino (CERN)

Maquette of High Temperature Superconducting Link of the type needed at LHC Point 7. Image credits: CERN

Superconducting links in accelerator systems enable powering of the cryo-magnets from remote power converters. The development carried out within Task 5 of the EuCARD Work Package7 aims at providing such technology for the remote powering of LHC magnets.

The use of High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) in Superconducting Links has the great benefit of enabling the development of a powering system where superconductors can be operated with a generous temperature margin. To enable the use of superconductors with tape geometry, a novel concept of cable optimized for DC electrical transmission (Twisted-Pair Cable) has been developed and demonstrated [1], [2]. A cabling machine enabling the controlled assembly of km-long Twisted Pair cables - made from superconductors with different mechanical characteristics - has been conceived, assembled and commissioned at CERN. A full-scale 5 m long prototype link has been made at CERN and successfully tested in nominal conditions at the University of Southampton [3]. A 20 m-long full scale link is being assembled at CERN, where it will be tested in nominal and transient conditions.

The main outcomes of this activity are: (1) the development of a novel concept of superconducting cable for electrical transmission that can be made from any of the HTS tape-conductors today available (BSCCO 2223, YBCO or MgB2); (2) the development of a new cabling machine for the controlled assembly of the cable; (3) the development of a full superconducting link system that could be used at LHC Point 7 for the powering of the superconducting magnets. The developed technology could be applied for feeding any superconducting system requiring currents in the 1 kA range at any temperature from liquid nitrogen to liquid helium.

Read more >> [1] [2] [3]