IFJ PAN's contribution to the HL-LHC: construction of the superconducting links

New superconducting transfer lines known as Superconducting Links (SC Links) are being developed at CERN for the remote powering of upgraded superconducting insertion magnets in the framework of the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) project. The purpose of the SC Links is to transfer current from power converters located in radiation-free areas to magnets located in the vicinity of the LHC interaction points via shorter REBCO High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) current leads. HTS current leads, connecting the superconducting link to the conventional cables of the power converters, allow a very high current densities to be carried and significantly reducing the cooling power required for conventional cables. The expected length of the superconducting lines can reach 130 m, depending on the location, spanning a vertical distance of about 80 m. Each of the link containing an assembly of MgB₂ cables supplying different systems, which will transfer a total current exceeding 150 kA. In order to validate the selected technical solutions and materials as well as to confirm the design reliability and robustness of the SC Links, the construction of a fully functional 60 m long demonstrator (DEMO1) of the 18 kA circuit of the SC Link is ongoing. Since 2018, the engineering team from IFJ PAN has been contributing to the Cold Powering activity (Work Package 6a of the HL-LHC project). This contribution includes among others, preparing of assembly procedures for the system, producing components for the demonstrator, assembling the demonstrator and participating in tests.