R&D on 52-kA HTS Current Lead at ASIPP

The Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) is experienced in the design and fabrication of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) current leads such as those successfully used in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting (EAST) Tokamak. The aim of the 52-kA trial lead was to develop a prototype for the leads supplying the poloidal field and central solenoid magnets of ITER. This lead differs from former HTS current leads and from another trial (68 kA) lead developed in parallel for the toroidal field magnet, in that it features a foil-type heat exchanger, a helium-cooled transition section, and a binary shunt made of stainless steel and phosphor bronze. The 52-kA trial lead was fabricated and tested in the EAST Tokamak facility. Results of the test are presented. An analysis of these results indicates that the design concepts introduced are validated. The test also served to validate the HTS stacks that equipped the lead. These were supplied by InnoST.